San Ildefonso Black-on-back Bowl with Rainclouds signed Marie

This highly burnished black bowl made by Maria Martinez (1884-1980) and minimally decorated by Julian Martinez (1885-1943) of San Ildefonso Pueblo is renowned for its flawless craftsmanship. Measuring 2-½ inches deep and nearly 6-½ inches in diameter, the bowl features a subtle rain cloud pattern on its interior, leaving most of the interior high burnish visible.

This exquisite Black-on-black bowl is signed on the underside Marie, an indication that it was made by Maria and painted by Julian. That signature was first applied by Maria in 1923. By 1925, Julian's name was being added to the signature. It is therefore reasonable to state that this bowl was made in 1923 or 1924.

The bowl exemplifies the beauty of Maria's plain, polished, and undecorated pottery, where form and finish speak for themselves, with the added pleasure of seeing Julian's simple band of rain clouds, leaving one to admire the plainware of Maria and the subtle design of Julian.

Condition: very good condition with a few very minor abrasions

Provenance: this San Ildefonso Black-on-back Bowl with Rainclouds signed Marie is from the collection of an Adobe Gallery client

Reference and Recommended Reading:

- The Living Tradition of Maria Martinez by Susan Peterson

- The Legacy of Maria Poveka Martinez by Richard L. Spivey.

TAGS: Julian Martinez, Mimbres, Maria, pottery, Santana, Southwest Indian Pottery, San Ildefonso Pueblo, Contemporary Pottery