San Ildefonso Large Black Carved Design Shallow Bowl [SOLD]

In 1880, James Stevenson collected pottery from San Ildefonso and other pueblos for the Smithsonian Institution.  One pictorial painted bowl featured designs of “serpents,” representing the oldest documented pottery with an Avanyu or Water Serpent.  The use of an Avanyu on pottery at San Ildefonso has continued uninterrupted to today.

Around 1930, Rose Gonzales began carving pottery at San Ildefonso Pueblo.  She soon was joined by neighbor Rosalie Aguilar and others. Rose said she got the idea when her husband brought home an ancient carved pottery shard.  He found the piece while on a deer hunting trip. Rose liked the style and began carving pottery. About the same time at Santa Clara Pueblo, members of the Tafoya family began carving pottery.

Rose was born at San Juan Pueblo (now Ohkay Owingeh) around 1900.  Her parents died from the swine flu epidemic, leaving Rose and her sister, Pomasena, orphans.  The girls survived by staying at the Santa Fe Indian School. An elder woman relative, Mary Cata, adopted the girls and took care of them.  In 1920, Rose married Robert Gonzales and moved to his pueblo of San Ildefonso. Pomasena also moved to San Ildefonso, living with Rose and Robert.  Robert’s mother, Ramona Sanchez Gonzales, was an excellent potter who taught young Rose how to make pottery.

Rose is credited as the innovator of deep carved pottery at San Ildefonso.  She used a sharp knife and chisel to carve the clay. She began to sand the edges to create a “cameo” style, with the design standing out in low relief.  She carefully sanded her edges to create more rounded forms. In the early years, Rose mostly made pottery to trade for food. From her proceeds, she helped feed eleven people in her family.  

This black polished shallow bowl well illustrates Rose’s detailed carving expertise.  The edges of the carved areas were sanded to round them off. The bowl is signed, on the underside, Rose.

Condition: this San Ildefonso Large Black Carved Design Shallow Bowl is in excellent condition.

Provenance: from the collection of a client who lives in New Jersey.

Reference:  Pueblo Indian Pottery: 750 Artist Biographies by Gregory Schaaf, 2000,181.

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