San Ildefonso Buff-on-red Jar by Gilbert and Isabell Atencio [SOLD]

Gilbert Atencio was the son of Isabel M. Montoya and the nephew of Maria Martinez. He was educated at San Ildefonso Day School and graduated from the Santa Fe Indian School in 1947. He served in the U. S. Marine Corp after which he worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory as a medical illustrator for most of his adult life.  He painted mostly ceremonial functions with which he was familiar during his non-work hours.  Late in his career he began to paint some of the pottery his mother made and they co-signed those pieces.  In the last few years of his life, he both made pottery and decorated it as well. 

This jar was made by Isabel Montoya and painted by Gilbert Atencio.  It is co-signed Gilbert & Belle San Ildefonso 74.  Later, perhaps after his mom passed away, Gilbert was both making and painting the pottery.  I met him in 1978 and he was making pottery at that time and I witnessed him doing so. 

I don’t think he made much pottery as he was meticulous in painting them and took considerably more time to do so than more experienced potters.  I doubt seriously that he made more than a few dozen jars, both Buff-on-red and Polychrome.  

This Buff-on-red jar is in original excellent condition.  There is ample biographical information on both artists in Pueblo Indian Pottery: 750 Artist Biographies by Greg Schaaf.  CIAC 2000.