Maria Montoy Poveka Martinez (Native American, San Ildefonso Pueblo (P'ohwhogeh Owingeh), 1887-1980) ca. 1920s CE. A fine decorated pottery plate created signed on the underside in cursive "Marie," for famed potter Maria Martinez! Over the course of her long career Martinez's signature varied, but her earliest signed pieces were often just marked as "Marie" (with an "E") from about 1920 to 1925. Her husband, Julian, helped paint these pieces, but their names only began to appear together on pottery around 1925 until his death in 1943. She then used her true name "Maria" (with an "A") to sign subsequent pieces. Fired to a dark black hue, the exterior of the vessel exhibits an intense luster with matte decoration. Although it appears to be etched, the decoration is actually applied via a matte slip over the heavily burnished surface. Size: 9.375" W (23.8 cm)

The San Ildefonso Pueblo is synonymous with the pottery of Maria Martinez. Her signature style became so popular that its sales actually helped stabilize the economy and quality of life in San Ildefonso and many of the surrounding pueblos as well. As a child, Maria learned to make pottery from her aunt. In 1904 she married Julian Martinez, and the pair made a fabulous team. Maria created the pottery, and Julian painted the designs. They are best known for the creation of a new style of pottery in 1918-19, the matte painted and highly polished "black-on-black" style. They also perfected a red ware style in 1924. Maria signed her work "Marie" because she thought the name Marie had a greater appeal to non-Indigenous purchasers. As pottery was considered a woman's job in the Pueblo, Maria left out Julian's signature from pieces he had decorated to respect the Pueblo culture until 1925. After Julian passed away, Maria continued to make pottery which was painted by her daughter-in-law Santana (1909-2002) and later by her son, Popovi Da (1923-1971). Maria received numerous awards for her pottery and was the featured subject of several books including "Maria the Potter of San Ildefonso" by Alice Marriot and "The Legacy of Maria Poveka Martinez" by Richard Spivey.

Provenance: private British Columbia, Canada collection, gifted from aunt in Tucson, Arizona, USA, acquired prior to 1994

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#182465

Intact and excellent with a very minor scuff or two. Signature quite strong and original sale price of a whopping $5.50 in red on reverse.