Large and Magnificent San Ildefonso Pueblo Polychrome Pottery Jar by Martina Vigil and Florentino Montoya

This historic polychrome pottery jar from San Ildefonso Pueblo features the distinctive rag-wiped Cochiti slip introduced to San Ildefonso by the talented potters Martina Vigil and Florentino Montoya in the early 1900s. The couple brought this technique to San Ildefonso before permanently relocating to Cochiti Pueblo around 1905. While many potters at San Ildefonso quickly embraced this new slip, some continued using the traditional San Ildefonso Pueblo slip, which required meticulous stone polishing. Notably, this jar also displays a red rim, reminiscent of the Powhoge Polychrome style from the 1890s.

The transition from Powhoge Polychrome to San Ildefonso Polychrome began around the 1890s, marking a significant evolution in pottery techniques and aesthetics. This period saw the revival of red paint for decorative designs, changes in vessel shapes, and the replacement of red rims with black ones. It was also during this time that specific potters began to be recognized for their work, allowing for more precise attributions.

Jonathan Batkin, a prominent scholar in Pueblo pottery, has documented several remarkable potters from San Ildefonso Pueblo during the 1890s whose works can now be identified with some degree of accuracy. Among these artisans were the husband-and-wife duo Martina Vigil and Florentino Montoya, who are celebrated for their exceptional craftsmanship. Batkin's book, Pottery of the Pueblos of New Mexico 1700-1940, includes illustrations of their work, which closely resemble the bold designs and slightly rounded neck of this jar. Based on these characteristics, it is likely that this jar was crafted by Martina and Florentino, although, as with all attributions to long-deceased artists, this assessment remains an informed opinion rather than a definitive conclusion.

Condition: very good condition

Provenance: this Large and Magnificent San Ildefonso Pueblo Polychrome Pottery Jar by Martina Vigil and Florentino Montoya is from the estate of a Santa Fe resident

Recommended Reading:  Pottery of the Pueblos of New Mexico 1700-1940 by Jonathan Batkin

TAGS: Southwest Indian Pottery, San Ildefonso Pueblo, Historic Pottery, Martina Vigil and Florentino Montoya, San Ildefonso Pueblo Potters