Skip to main content

Maria and Julian Martinez San Idelfonso Native American Pottery

Maria and Julian Martinez San Idelfonso Native American Pottery

View Similar Items

Unknown - ROUEN, XVIIIème - Suite en faïence de 2 PLATS

ROUEN, XVIIIème - Suite en faïence de 2 PLATS

Richard Dick Hay - Large Richard “Dick” Hay Vessel, 25.5"H

Large Richard “Dick” Hay Vessel, 25.5"H

Richard Dick Hay - Large Richard “Dick” Hay Vessel, 29.5"H

Large Richard “Dick” Hay Vessel, 29.5"H

Unknown - A large Aldermaston Pottery Bowl, Earthenware by Aldermaston Pottery, 1980s

A large Aldermaston Pottery Bowl, Earthenware by Aldermaston Pottery, 1980s

Unknown - An Aldermaston Pottery Bowl with Abstract Design by Alan Caiger-Smith, 1969/1970

An Aldermaston Pottery Bowl with Abstract Design by Alan Caiger-Smith, 1969/1970

Unknown - A large Aldermaston Pottery Bowl, Earthenware by Aldermaston Pottery, 1997 Circa

A large Aldermaston Pottery Bowl, Earthenware by Aldermaston Pottery, 1997 Circa

Jeffry Mitchell - Foot Vase with Flower, Glazed Earthenware by Jeffry Mitchell, 2012

Foot Vase with Flower, Glazed Earthenware by Jeffry Mitchell, 2012

(after) Pablo Picasso - "AR 79 - Dove on Straw Bed" 1949 white earthenware clay platter by Pablo Picasso

"AR 79 - Dove on Straw Bed" 1949 white earthenware clay platter by Pablo Picasso

Lynne Meade - Double Gourd Round Lace contemporary white ceramic vase

Double Gourd Round Lace contemporary white ceramic vase

Melanie Sherman - Cup with Interior II (Hand-Painted, Gold Luster, Stereo, Couch, Flowers, Modern)

Cup with Interior II (Hand-Painted, Gold Luster, Stereo, Couch, Flowers, Modern)

Lynne Meade - Elongated Teardrop Round Lace contemporary black ceramic vase

Elongated Teardrop Round Lace contemporary black ceramic vase

Melanie Sherman - Decorative Porcelain Plate I

Decorative Porcelain Plate I

Want more images or videos?

Request additional images or videos from the seller

1 of 7

Maria and Julian Martinez
Maria and Julian Martinez San Idelfonso Native American Pottery

Price:$8,000

$9,500List Price

About the Item

Maria & Julian Martinez San Idelfonso Native American Pottery 8" High x 9" Diam Signed "Maria and Julian" on Bottom Maria Martinez (1884 - 1980) Of Tewa heritage of the San Ildefonso Pueblo in the Rio Grande Valley of New Mexico, Maria Martinez became world-renowned for her black-on-black pottery. Learning to make pots as a child from her aunt, Tia Nicolasa, and beginning with clay dishes she made for her playhouse, Maria was known as a potter among her peers. In 1908, Dr. Edgar Hewett, New Mexico archaeologist and director of the Laboratory of Anthropology in Santa Fe, had excavated some 17th century black pottery shards and, seeking to revive this type of pottery, Hewett was led to Maria. Through trial and error, Maria rediscovered the art of making black pottery. She found that smothering a cool fire with dried cow manure trapped the smoke, and that by using a special type of paint on top of a burnished surface, in combination with trapping the smoke and the low temperature of the fire resulted in turning a red-clay-pot black. Maria, who made but never painted the pottery, collaborated with her husband Julian, who not only assisted in the gathering of the clay and the building the fire, and, most importantly, painting the motif on the pottery. Julian painted Maria's pottery until his death in 1943. During the early years of pottery making, Julian broke away from farming to became a janitor at the Museum of New Mexico in Santa Fe. It was here that he and Maria studied the pottery in the display cases, observing form, motif and technique. Maria was always deeply connected with her pueblo of San Ildefonso, with the traditional life of a tribal member, partaking in tribal ceremonies and religious activities. Although she was successful in Santa Fe selling her pottery, she preferred living in her ancestral home. Maria was very unselfish with her talent, and she gave pottery lessons to other women in her village as well as in to potters in neighboring pueblos, thereby providing a new source of income to many. After her husband's death, she worked with her sons, Popovi Da and Adam, and her daughter-in-law, Santana in continuing her work throughout her life. Maria Martinez became so admired for her skill that she was specially invited to the White House four times, and she received honorary doctorates from the University of Colorado and New Mexico State University. She is considered one of the most influential Native Americans of the 20th century. Julian Martinez (1879-1943) Julian assisted Maria in the gathering of the clay, the fire-making, and painted the motifs on Maria's vessels. His paintwork is "characterized by the abundant use of narrow lines and designs composed of many intricate elements [...] Julian was a perfectionist and an innovator, always searching for new ideas in technique and design." Maria and Julian Martinez pioneered a style of applying a matte-black design over polished-black. Similar to the pot pictured here, the design was based on pottery sherds found on an Ancestral Pueblo dig site dating to the twelfth to seventeenth centuries at what is now known as Bandelier National Monument. The Martinezes worked at the site, with Julian helping the archaeologists at the dig and Maria helping at the campsite. Julian Martinez spent time drawing and painting the designs found on the walls and on the sherds of pottery into his notebooks, designs he later recreated on pots. In the 1910s, Maria and Julian worked together to recreate the black-on-black ware they found at the dig, experimenting with clay from different areas and using different firing techniques. Taking a cue from Santa Clara pots, they discovered that smothering the fire with powdered manure removed the oxygen while retaining the heat and resulted in a pot that was blackened. This resulted in a pot that was less hard and not entirely watertight, which worked for the new market that prized decorative use over utilitarian value. The areas that were burnished had a shiny black surface and the areas painted with guaco were matte designs based on natural phenomenon, such as rain clouds, bird feathers, rows of planted corn, and the flow of rivers.

Creator:
Maria and Julian Martinez
Dimensions:
Height: 8 in (20.32 cm)Diameter: 9 in (22.86 cm)
Medium:
Earthenware
Period:
Mid-20th Century
Condition:
Gallery Location:
Missouri, MO
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU74733459553

More From This Seller

Basket

By Ken Ferguson

Located in Missouri, MO

Basket By Ken Ferguson (1928-2004) 21" x 13" Ken Ferguson received an M.F.A. in 1954 from Alfred University, and went on to become an influential teacher and artist in his field of pottery. From 1964 until 1996, when he was named Professor Emeritus, Ferguson was Head of the Ceramics Department at the Kansas City Art Institute. His students included Kurt Weiser...

Category

20th Century Abstract More Art

Materials

Earthenware, Glaze

Basket

Ken Ferguson
Basket

Price Upon Request

Pot with Red & Black Motif

By Griselda Camacho de Silveria

Located in Missouri, MO

Griselda Comacho de Silveria "Pot with Red & Black Motif Earthenware 4.5 x 6.5 inches Signed on Bottom

Category

Late 20th Century More Art

Materials

Earthenware

Pot with Red & Black Motif

Griselda Camacho de Silveria
Pot with Red & Black Motif

$2,250

Historic San Ildefonso Pueblo Pottery

Located in Missouri, MO

San Ildefonso large pottery bowls are among the scarcest items made at the pueblo. One rarely sees them. Water jars or ollas are much more available.

Category

Late 19th Century Abstract Geometric More Art

Materials

Earthenware

Historic San Ildefonso Pueblo Pottery

San Ildefonso Pottery
Historic San Ildefonso Pueblo Pottery, c. 1900

Price Upon Request

Acoma Pueblo Pottery

By Acoma

Located in Missouri, MO

Acoma Pueblo Pottery c. Late 19th C. Earthenware Clay 9.5 x 11 inches Acoma Pueblo is the oldest continually inhabited community in the United St...

Category

Late 19th Century More Art

Materials

Earthenware

Acoma Pueblo Pottery

Acoma
Acoma Pueblo Pottery

Price Upon Request

Lozenge with Dancer and Hind

By Pablo Picasso

Located in Missouri, MO

Lozenge with Dancer and Hind (#620, Ramie) Red Earthenware Clay Edition Madoura Picasso, 93/500 (Verso)

Category

1970s Modern More Art

Materials

Ceramic

Lozenge with Dancer and Hind

Pablo Picasso
Lozenge with Dancer and Hind, 1971

Price Upon Request

Vessel IX

Located in Missouri, MO

Vessel IX By Lydia Buzio (1948-2014) 10" x 9" Signed and Dated on Bottom Recognized for the unique Cityscape paintings applied to her ceramic work, Lydia Buzio was heavily influenced by the work of a leading Constructive Universalism artist, Joaquin Torres...

Category

20th Century Abstract Impressionist More Art

Materials

Ceramic, Paint

Vessel IX

Lydia Buzio
Vessel IX, 1984

Price Upon Request

You May Also Like

ROUEN, XVIIIème - Suite en faïence de 2 PLATS

Located in ROUEN, FR

ROUEN, XVIIIème - Suite en faïence de 2 PLATS à contours chantournées et décors grand feu polychrome d'une double corne d'abondance et œillets noirs. 35 x 25 cm.

Category

18th Century French School More Art

Materials

Faience

ROUEN, XVIIIème - Suite en faïence de 2 PLATS

ROUEN, XVIIIème - Suite en faïence de 2 PLATS

$2,624

Large Richard “Dick” Hay Vessel, 25.5"H

By Richard Dick Hay

Located in Lake Worth Beach, FL

Artist/Designer; Manufacturer: Richard “Dick” Hay (American, 1942-2020) Marking(s); notes: signed Materials: ceramic Dimensions (H, W, D): 25.5" h, 13.5"w, 8.5"d Additional Informat...

Category

20th Century Contemporary More Art

Materials

Earthenware

Large Richard “Dick” Hay Vessel, 25.5"H

Richard Dick Hay
Large Richard “Dick” Hay Vessel, 25.5"H, circa 2000

$2,500

Large Richard “Dick” Hay Vessel, 29.5"H

By Richard Dick Hay

Located in Lake Worth Beach, FL

Artist/Designer; Manufacturer: Richard "Dick" Hay (American, 1942-2020) Marking(s); notes: signed Materials: ceramic Dimensions (H, W, D): 29.5″h. 9.25 dia Additional Information: Pr...

Category

Late 20th Century Contemporary More Art

Materials

Earthenware

Large Richard “Dick” Hay Vessel, 29.5"H

Richard Dick Hay
Large Richard “Dick” Hay Vessel, 29.5"H, Circa 1995

$3,500

A large Aldermaston Pottery Bowl, Earthenware by Aldermaston Pottery, 1980s

Located in Kingsclere, GB

A large Aldermaston Pottery Bowl, Earthenware by Aldermaston Pottery, 1980s Circa Additional information: Medium: Earthenware with painted design over tin-glaze Diameter 31 cm (12 2...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary More Art

Materials

Earthenware

A large Aldermaston Pottery Bowl, Earthenware by Aldermaston Pottery, 1980s

A large Aldermaston Pottery Bowl, Earthenware by Aldermaston Pottery, 1980s, Circa 1980

$482

An Aldermaston Pottery Bowl with Abstract Design by Alan Caiger-Smith, 1969/1970

Located in Kingsclere, GB

An Aldermaston Pottery Bowl with Abstract Design by Alan Caiger-Smith, 1969/1970 Additional information: Medium: Earthenware with gold lustre over tin-glaze Diameter 17.5 cm (6 7/8...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary More Art

Materials

Earthenware

An Aldermaston Pottery Bowl with Abstract Design by Alan Caiger-Smith, 1969/1970

An Aldermaston Pottery Bowl with Abstract Design by Alan Caiger-Smith, 1969/1970, 1969/1970

$793

A large Aldermaston Pottery Bowl, Earthenware by Aldermaston Pottery, 1997 Circa

Located in Kingsclere, GB

A large Aldermaston Pottery Bowl, Earthenware by Aldermaston Pottery, 1997 Circa Additional information: Medium: Earthenware with painted ruby lustre over tin-glaze Diameter 36 cm (...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary More Art

Materials

Earthenware

A large Aldermaston Pottery Bowl, Earthenware by Aldermaston Pottery, 1997 Circa

A large Aldermaston Pottery Bowl, Earthenware by Aldermaston Pottery, 1997 Circa, Circa 1997

$896

Recently Viewed

More Ways To Browse

Vintage Mexican Feather Art

Vintage Mexican Pottery Bird

Pottery San Ildefonso

San Ildefonso Pueblo Pottery

Maria Martinez Pottery

Santa Clara Pueblo

Santa Clara Pottery

Vintage Bird Trap

Vintage Shard Pottery

Maria And Santana Martinez

Corning Ware Vintage

Vintage European Stamps

Vintage Fashion Photographers

Window Landscape Art

Vintage Art Reproductions

View All Popular More Art Searches