San Ildefonso Pueblo Polished Black Lidded Pottery Jar by Anita Martinez

This small, San Ildefonso Pueblo black polished jar with a lid was made by award winning artist Anita Martinez. It contains a rounded body, and the lid is removable. The black finish is glossy to the eye and immediately commands attention.

Most of the pottery we have had in the past made by Anita has been plain polished black without decoration, like this one. It seems she did not paint her pottery, likely out of preference, or possibly due to lack of ability. At any rate, it appears to be her style.

Lidded jars like this one are not often made by potters, as the lid must be made to fit properly, and that sometimes is difficult to judge as there might be some change in the firing which would cause the two pieces to not fit properly. Anita seems to have perfected the process, as we have had several of her lidded jars and they have always fit properly.

The bottom of the jar is signed Anita Martinez and features a rain cloud symbol.

San Ildefonso Pueblo artist Anita Martinez (b. ca. 1920s-1992) was a daughter of Santana and Adam Martinez and the mother of Barbara Gonzales and Kathy Pino, both of whom are potters of note. Anita, too, was a potter and was an award winning one. She consistently won awards at Santa Fe Indian Market and was featured in several exhibitions as early as 1974.

Condition: very good condition

Provenance: this San Ildefonso Pueblo Polished Black Lidded Pottery Jar by Anita Martinez is from the collection of a gentleman from Illinois. 

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

TAGS: San Ildefonso Pueblo, Santana and Adam Martinez, Contemporary Southwest Indian Pottery, Anita Martinez, Barbara Gonzales, Kathy Pino