San Ildefonso Pueblo Award Winning Redware Pottery by Rose Gonzales [SOLD]

Award winning San Ildefonso Pueblo artist Rose Cata Gonzales is known for her polished blackware and redware pottery.  This large shallow bowl, measuring almost a foot in diameter, rises 1-½” up at the edge.  The design chosen by the potter may be described as four separate entities.  At the top, as shown in the photograph, is a three-stack cloud, below which is a long horizontal element with triangular spikes protruding on one end and a spiral design on the other end.  The other half of the bowl has two designs—a pair of stepped elements, typically known to represent mountains, and on the other end is a spiral element.  A half-inch polished red band encircles the edge.  The deep red clay displays a beautiful burnish on the designs and a matte red slip on the background.

Rose Cata Gonzales was originally from Ohkay Owingeh (San Juan) Pueblo. She married Robert Gonzales of San Ildefonso Pueblo and moved there with him. Rose was a sister of Pomasena Sanchez. She was the mother of Jose H. Rainbird Gonzales, Tse-Pé Gonzales, and Marie Gonzales Yazzie. Rose learned pottery making from Ramona Sanchez Gonzales, her mother-in-law. Rose's parents died from the swine flu epidemic of 1918, leaving Rose and her sister Pomasena orphaned. The girls survived by staying at the Santa Fe Indian School. Mary Cata, a relative, adopted and cared for the girls.

In the 1920s, Rose learned first how to make polished blackware. She then learned the new technique of black-on-black pottery, using a matte black paint for designs. Rose also learned the older technique of black-on-red pottery, most often associated with Tonita Martinez Roybal (1892-1945) Antonita and her mother. Rose was credited as the innovator of deep carved pottery around 1930 at San Ildefonso. She sometimes collaborated with her son, Tse-Pé, especially in duotones. She was active as a potter from 1929 to 1989.

Rose Gonzales (1900-1989) is listed as winning awards from 1965 through 1979 at Gallup Inter-tribal Indian Ceremonial, Santa Fe Indian Market, and New Mexico State Fair, however, this bowl carries the notation that it was 1st Prize, Gallup 1938.  This may be one of the first recognitions of her extraordinary talent.

Condition: this San Ildefonso Pueblo Award Winning Redware Pottery by Rose Gonzales is in good condition with minor abrasions on exterior edge and bottom

Recommended Reading: Pueblo Indian Pottery 750 Artist Biographies by Gregory Schaaf

Provenance: 

- ex. coll. South Dakota pueblo pottery collector.

- ex. coll. Virginia pueblo pottery collector.

Relative Links: Rose Gonzales, Ohkay Owingeh (San Juan) Pueblo, San Ildefonso Pueblo, Tse-Pé Gonzales, Marie Gonzales Yazzie, Ramona Sanchez Gonzales, Tonita Martinez Roybal, Southwest Indian Pottery