Helen Gutierrez San Ildefonso Pueblo Buff on Red Pottery Dish [SOLD]

For San Ildefonso Pueblo artist Helen Gutierrez painting on pottery was always exceptional, as evidenced by the application on this dish.  The buff clay was consistently applied in a thick coat which provided for a good contrast between it and the red clay background.  This dish demonstrates well how talented Helen was in forming a vessel, polishing it, painting the design, and achieving a good firing.

There probably is no correct or incorrect rotational direction by which to display this San Ildefonso Pueblo pottery dish by Helen Gutierrez in an upright position.  Do the eagle feathers in the small circle belong in the top position, side position, or bottom position?  

Helen Gutierrez was from a famous family of artists. Her brother, Gilbert Atencio, was one of the most honored painters. Helen was the granddaughter of Nicolasa Peña Montoya and Juan Cruz Montoya; daughter of Isabel Atencio and Benjamin Atencio; sister of Gilbert Atencio, Tony Atencio, Pat Atencio, Angelita Atencio Sanchez; and wife of Frankie Gutierrez.   She was the mother of artist Geraldine Gutierrez.

Helen was born in 1930 and died in or about 1995.  After her marriage, she lived at Santa Clara Pueblo and there was where she raised her family.

Condition: excellent original condition

Provenance: this Helen Gutierrez San Ildefonso Pueblo Buff on Red Pottery Dish is from the collection of a gentleman from South Dakota

Recommended Reading: Pueblo Indian Pottery 750 Artist Biographies by Gergory Schaaf

Relative Links: San Ildefonso Pueblo, Gilbert Atencio, Isabel M. Montoya Atencio, Geraldine Gutierrez, Southwest Indian Pottery, Helen Gutierrez, San Ildefonso Pueblo Pottery