San Ildefonso Pueblo Black on Black Pottery Wedding Vase by Maria Martinez [SOLD]

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Maria Martinez, San Ildefonso Pueblo Potter

Pueblo pottery wedding vases did not seem to be high on Maria Martinez’s list as there are relatively few of them compared to the many plates and bowls she made.  This one is small and charming with a three-leaf plant over a solid line which is over an oval filled with dots. The vase is signed with the name Marie etched into the surface in her recognizable cursive form.

Early signature by artist Maria Martinez, San Ildefonso Pueblo PotterIt has been established that “it was in 1923 that Maria began signing her pottery with the signature ‘Marie.’  The name ‘Marie’ was selected instead of ‘Maria’ because it was suggested that it would be more familiar to the non-Indian public.  The ‘Marie & Julian’ signature first appeared about 1925.” (Spivey 2003:163)   It is therefore concluded that this wedding vase was made in the early 1920s.  Julian’s contributions would have been the painted design and the firing process.

It was not until 1912 that Maria and Julian Martinez began producing polished black pottery. This was not a creation of theirs but a standard pottery being produced at the Tewa Pueblos—San Ildefonso, Santa Clara, San Juan, Nambe, Pojoaque and Tesuque.  What they did, however, was to refine the form and create a highly lustrous finish. In 1919, Julian experimented and discovered a way in which to apply a matte design on the polished black pottery Maria was making. He painted the design over the polished surface using the same slip that was used on the polished surface, but left this slip application without polishing it.  Julian was an accomplished painter already so transferring his artistic talent from paper to pottery was natural. He painted the designs on the pottery using a paint brush made from the leaf of the yucca plant, removing the outer layer and leaving only the thin interior fibers as the paint brush.

By the 1930s, Maria and Julian were famous for their pottery—both polychrome and black ware.  They were acknowledged as making the best pottery at the pueblo. They were encouraged and promoted by Dr. Edgar L. Hewitt of the newly-founded School of American Research in Santa Fe and the Museum of New Mexico.  They worked tirelessly together until Julian passed away in 1943. Maria continued making pottery until her son Popovi Da passed away in 1972, at which time she retired. She passed away in 1980 at an approximate age of 93.

Unlike pieces created and inspired by tourism, the shape of the wedding vase has historical significance. The two spouts represent the bride and groom and the base where the two come together represents the shared life of the couple.

Condition: this San Ildefonso Pueblo Black on Black Pottery Wedding Vase by Maria Martinez is in very good condition

Provenance: from the collection of a client from Santa Fe

Reference: The Legacy of Maria Poveka Martinez by Richard L. Spivey

Relative Links: Pueblo Pottery, San Ildefonso PuebloPopovi DaSantana and Adam MartinezJulian Martinez


Maria Martinez, San Ildefonso Pueblo Potter
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