Contemporary San Ildefonso Pueblo Black-on-black Dish [R]

Rose Cata Gonzales was originally from Ohkay Owingeh (San Juan) Pueblo. She married Robert Gonzales of San Ildefonso Pueblo and moved there with him. Rose was a sister of Pomasena Sanchez. She was the mother of Jose H. Rainbird Gonzales, Tse-Pé Gonzales, and Marie Gonzales Yazzie. Rose learned pottery making from Ramona Sanchez Gonzales, her mother-in-law. Rose's parents died from the swine flu epidemic of 1918, leaving Rose and her sister Pomasena orphaned. The girls survived by staying at the Santa Fe Indian School. Mary Cata, a relative, adopted and cared for the girls.

In the 1920s, Rose learned first how to make polished blackware. She then learned the new technique of black-on-black pottery, using a matte black paint for designs. Rose also learned the older technique of black-on-red pottery, most often associated with Tonita Martinez Roybal (1892-1945) and her mother. Rose was credited as the innovator of deep carved pottery around 1930 at San Ildefonso. She sometimes collaborated with her son, Tse-Pé, especially in duotones. She was active as a potter from 1929 to 1989.

Rose is listed as winning awards from 1965 through 1979 at Gallup Inter-tribal Indian Ceremonial, Santa Fe Indian Market, and New Mexico State Fair.  She was recognized as a major potter of the time.

This Contemporary San Ildefonso Pueblo Black-on-black Dish is typical of the high quality of pottery produced by Rose.  She divided the face into four quadrants and selected two design elements to outline in matte black slip.  The dish is signed Rose on the underside.

Condition: this Contemporary San Ildefonso Pueblo Black-on-black Dish is in very good condition

Provenance: from the collection of a gentleman from Santa Fe

Recommended Reading: Pueblo Indian Pottery: 750 Artist Biographies, c.1800-Present by Gregory Schaaf

Photo of Rose Gonzales by T. Harmon Parkhurst, Courtesy of Museum of New Mexico and Gregory Schaaf.