San Ildefonso Pueblo Black on Black Bowl signed Maria - Popovi [SOLD]

This bowl features the most beautiful rounded shape one could achieve. It gently rolls upward and inward from the base to the rim in a graceful motion. The traditional feather pattern made famous by Julian was chosen for the design and was executed with precision as Popovi Da was known to do. The feather design was introduced by Julian to San Ildefonso pottery. Julian spotted a thousand-year-old Mimbres bowl with a feather design, and that was his inspiration.

The bowl was signed by Maria and Popovi by impressing their names into the damp clay on the underside. It is not dated, but must be from 1957, when Popovi Da started co-signing with Maria, and 1959, when Popovi started adding dates to the pottery. This bowl is signed but has no date added. It is in marvelous condition and is an excellent example of the pottery of Maria and Popovi Da.

It is unquestionable that Popovi Da was an outstanding artist whose production bearing his name was very limited during his short career as a potter. Popovi first and foremost devoted his time to assisting his mother with her pottery. He gathered clay for her, painted designs on her pottery, and performed the firing of her wares. Popovi did not in any way want to upstage his mom by competing with her. It was his desire, and his actions, to help her in any and every way he could. He thought he would be able to express his own art desires after she was gone, but, unfortunately, he passed away before Maria.

Popovi Da attended The Studio at the Santa Fe Indian School in 1935 under the tutelage of Dorothy Dunn. He was one of the artists selected to paint a mural at the John Gaw Meen designed building in Albuquerque for the Maisel Trading Post. Like his dad, Po was painting in watercolors before becoming an artist in pottery painting.

Popovi Da worked with Maria from 1957 to 1970 and he passed away in 1971, at which time, Maria retired from making pottery. Collectors of pueblo pottery recognize that the period of Maria and Popovi working together was the height of perfection in Maria's pottery. Popovi introduced new designs and greatly improved the firing techniques that achieved true gun metal finishes to the pottery. He was an artist working with an artist and together they produced masterpieces of pueblo pottery.

Condition: very good condition

Provenance: this San Ildefonso Pueblo Black on Black Bowl signed Maria - Popovi is from the estate of the client to whom we sold this in 2011

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

TAGS: Pueblo Pottery, San Ildefonso Pueblo, Popovi Da, Santana and Adam Martinez, Julian Martinez, Maria Martinez, San Ildefonso Pueblo Potter