San Ildefonso Pueblo Carved Black Pottery Bowl by Blue Corn [SOLD]

This small Black carved bowl by San Ildefonso potter Blue Corn features an Avanyu water serpent encircling its body.  The Avanyu was outlined by carving the adjoining clay away, leaving it at the same surface level as the area around the rim.  The entire area below the Avanyu was carved away to the level of the outlined clay around the Avanyu. The lower part of the bowl has a matte finish, the upper part matches the other carved areas. It’s a very inventive spin on a classic pueblo design.  The bowl is signed with the artist’s name, pueblo, and dated ’54.

Crucita Gonzales Calabaza (1921-1999) Blue Corn was one of the greatest and most versatile San Ildefonso ceramicists. She made pottery for over 60 years, working in black, red, and polychrome using a variety of forms. Her house was located across the plaza from that of Maria Martinez, but there was no competition between the two artisans. She was one of the most honored of twentieth century potters. She received the 1981 New Mexico Governor's Award—New Mexico's highest artistic award—and she was acclaimed for her artistic accomplishments in the "Wall Street Journal" and "AMEPNKA", a Soviet Union journal. She won awards at State Fairs, Indian Market, and other notable exhibitions.

Condition: very good condition

Provenance: this San Ildefonso Pueblo Carved Black Pottery Bowl by Blue Corn is from the estate of a family from New Mexico

Photography By: Andrew Southard

Recommended Reading: Fourteen Families in Pueblo Pottery by Rick Dillingham

Relative Links: Maria and Julian, San Ildefonso, Kewa Pueblo - Santo Domingo, Southwest Indian Pottery, Crucita Gonzales Calabaza - Blue Corn, San Ildefonso Pueblo Potter