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San Ildefonso Pueblo Black-on-black Feather Design Plate signed Maria/Popovi - C3890A
Popovi Da began collaborating with his mother on her pottery in 1956, following a period when Santana had been assisting her mother-in-law. Popovi and his mom worked together until his death in 1971. Popovi worked with Maria in all aspects of pottery preparation and their pieces were co-signed. When Popovi passed away, Maria essentially retired. Popovi initiated the process of adding the date to his and Maria's pottery in 1959. Prior to that, they were just co-signed with the two names.
This plate with a feather design does not have a date so it would have been made between 1956 and 1958, the period before dates were placed on their pottery. It is this period, when Maria was assisted by her son, which most collectors herald as the greatest period of creativity.