San Ildefonso Pueblo Polychrome Pottery Jar “Remember the Maine” by Ignacia Sanchez [SOLD]

This historic San Ildefonso Pueblo jar is globular in shape up to the point where the curve of the body reverses its direction as it forms the neck of the vessel, going from convex to concave.  The jar is visually separated into three horizontal bands—the lower 1/3rd being the natural stone-polished tan clay body, the mid 1/3rd being the body of the vessel destined to be the canvas for a design, and the top 1/3rd being the neck of the vessel on which a different design would be placed.  Each of these thirds is separated from its neighbor by a pair of black framing lines.

It has been expressed that the three levels of division of a jar represent the three levels of life at the pueblo.  The lower level, traditionally left without decoration, represents the earth, and is recognized at the pueblo by the plaza where the ceremonial dances take place.  The mid-section, where most of the design is placed, represents the life functions of the pueblo and is the portion of the jar that features significant designs representing rain, lightning, fertility and other life-giving and life-sustaining matters.  The upper third, the rim, is the sky where the supernatural spirits inhabit and provide spiritual life and life-sustaining rain to the pueblo.

The designs on this jar are somewhat unique in that typical rain and cloud designs predominate but then there is the writing “Remember the Maine” referring, of course, to the sinking of the USS Maine in Cuba in 1898.

The design on the middle section is a series of triangles, two of which are more detailed in execution and the only ones containing an element with red slip.  Each of these seems to inspire in one’s mind a cathedral, however the red stepped element outlined in black is generally recognized as representing mountains.  The black triangles hovering over the mountain suggest clouds.  The two adjoining design triangles are black lines, black triangles, and black cross hatching devoid of fill-in color.

The uniqueness of the design is the wording inserted twice between the black framing lines on the shoulder.  The words are “Remember the Maine” in printed letters mixing lowercase and capitalized and some block form and others cursive style.  What could influence a pueblo person to dedicate a work to such a foreign event?  It was possibly commissioned by a member of Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders who had volunteered from New Mexico Territory in 1898 to go to Cuba when the battleship USS Maine was destroyed in Havana Harbor on February 15, 1898.  Over a thousand New Mexican men volunteered to go with Roosevelt.  Surely one of them commissioned the potter to make that after his return.

I consulted with Dr. Bruce Bernstein, who has studied San Ildefonso nineteenth century pottery for over a decade and was the curator who put together the current exhibit at the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture Museum of Indian Arts and Culture: San Ildefonso Pottery: 1600 - 1930.  Some of his words:

“What an odd but unique and fantastic pot. . . Ignacia Sanchez comes to mind as a potential maker of the pot. Her pots tend to have a great variety, experimental designs, with a great deal of white around them.  She never seemed focused on filling the body with design.  The neck and rim might also be hers.”

There is no information in the published literature regarding Ignacia Sanchez.  What we have been able to put together is that she was Abel Sanchez’s mother.  Abel Sanchez was Russel’s Sanchez’s grandfather, so Ignacia would have been Russel Sanchez’s great-grandmother.  

Dr. Bernstein also suggested that there are similarities in the vessel shape and designs that suggest possible makers might have been Yellow Deer, Marianita Roybal or Cipriana Vigil.  From his analyses and suggestions, we showed the jar to Russell Sanchez and his immediate statement was, that is Ignacia Sanchez’s work, so we have settled on Ignacia as the potter.  This is a unique jar representing the traditions of the pueblo and a slice of history of the United States.

Condition: very good condition with minimum surface abrasions

Provenance: this San Ildefonso Pueblo Polychrome Pottery Jar "Remember the Maine" by Ignacia Sanchez was purchased by Adobe Gallery in 1994 and sold to a client in 1997.  When we learned the jar was becoming available, we purchased it back in 2020.

Recommended Reading: Pottery of the Pueblos of New Mexico 1700 - 1940 by Jonathan Batkin

Relative Links: Southwest Indian Pottery, San Ildefonso Pueblo, Historic Pottery