Incised and Red Polished Ohkay Owingeh Jar [SOLD]

In 1930 Regina Cata organized a pottery study group at San Juan Pueblo with the intent of revitalizing pottery production. The group studied ancient potsherds of wares made at San Juan in earlier times and selected Potsuwi‘i Incised Ware (1450-1500) as a basis for a contemporary pottery type. By the 1950s, further development resulted in deep carved polychrome wares, and incised wares, both of which are still being produced today.

On the incised type, the rim zones and underbodies are highly polished red slip while the main body of the vessel remains matte. The design is carved and painted in the main body zone. Micaceous slip is painted into the incisions.

This jar, made by Tomasita Montoya, is an excellent example of the revival style of San Juan pottery.

Provenance: From the estate of Transcendental artist Florence Pierce of Albuquerque who passed away in 2007 at the age of 89. She was best known for luminescent paintings made of pigmented resins on reflective surfaces. Her interest in abstraction began in the 1930s when she was an associate of the Transcendental Painting Group. The New York Times called her "the doyenne of abstract art in the Southwest" following her art exhibit in New York City in 2006.