San Ildefonso Polychrome Dish signed Maria/Popovi [R]

Popovi Da began collaborating with his mom, Maria Martinez, on her pottery in 1956, following a period when Santana had been assisting her mother-in-law.  Popovi and his mom worked together until his death in 1971. Popovi worked with Maria in all aspects of pottery preparation and their pieces were co-signed.

This small polychrome dish is very typical of the high quality work of Maria and Popovi.  It was perfectly made, expertly painted and fired to a beautiful finish.  It is co-signed Maria/Popovi 866 (August 1966), just a few years before Popovi passed away.

Popovi Da deserves much credit for his influence on pueblo pottery. By having a retail shop at the pueblo, he was in a position to demand only the finest wares from potters who wished to sell in his studio.  He was following in the footsteps of his famous parents in demanding the finest work.  He encouraged many potters by purchasing their finest pieces during trade fairs and Indian Market.  Much of the demand for high quality pottery by collectors today is the result of Popovi's influence.  It was not until after he passed away in 1971 that prices escalated on outstanding pottery, but it was his influence that is partially responsible for it.

“Po began experimenting in 1956 with Polychrome ware, a pottery type that had been almost totally abandoned just after 1925 with the introduction and instant popularity of Black-on-black ware.  He entered his first perfect Polychrome piece at the Gallup Ceremonial in 1957 and won Best in Class.” Spivey 2003

With his reintroduction of Polychrome pottery at the pueblo, Popovi was honoring the work of Maria and Julian who had produced Polychrome pottery in the late 1800s and early 1900s before their immersion into blackware ceramics.  Maria and Popovi did not produce much Polychrome pottery as the interest of collectors was in black and then later black and sienna.  Such Polychrome wares by them are relatively rare.

Condition: original condition

Provenance:  from the estate of Michael Frost of Texas

Reference and Recommended Reading:  The Legacy of Maria Poveka Martinez by Richard L. Spivey