Large Red Jar with Turquoise signed DA [SOLD]

Tony Da started his art career as a painter at a very young age and continued painting throughout high school and afterwards.  It was not until he lived with his Grandmother, Maria Martinez, that he became a potter.  He moved in with Maria in 1966 and began the process of making pottery under her tutelage.  His timing was perfect, as the 1960s was a period of great interest in pueblo pottery.

Tony mastered the techniques of pottery making very fast and in a short time was making very thin-walled pottery, thinner than those of Maria.  Clara, Maria's sister, polished most of Tony's pottery as she did those of Maria.  She did this throughout his career until she retired in the late 1970s from polishing pottery of family members.  His dad, Popovi Da, set the standards of quality for Tony and never let up on doing so.  In two short years, Tony had mastered the techniques and was producing pottery of the highest quality and beauty.

In 1967, Tony entered competition at the Gallup Inter-tribal Indian Ceremonials with eight pieces for which he won seven first place awards and one second place.

This jar might be labeled Phase 2 of Tony’s progression of pottery creations.  His earliest pieces of redware were small jars with an Avanyu design much like the one on this jar but devoid of turquoise.  This jar shows his confidence in making large jars and it is the beginning of the addition of turquoise.  This jar is simple and elegant yet has the hallmark of the creative artistic talent of Tony Da early in his pottery career.

Condition:  UV examination reveals that a small V-shape section of the rim has had some conservation although it is not visible except to the trained eye for repairs or conservation. It in no way affects the beauty of the jar as it is not noticeable. There are some minor scratches and abrasions.

Provenance: from a gentleman in Santa Fe

Recommended Reading: The Life and Art of Tony Da by Charles King