Tonita Martinez Roybal, Antonita, San Ildefonso Pueblo Potter

San Ildefonso Pueblo artist Tonita Martinez Roybal, or Antonita, is acknowledged as one of the finest potters of the twentieth century. Had Maria Martinez not been accorded such fame, Roybal surely would have been. Her work was as fine as that of Maria. Additional to making the pottery, Roybal also painted it, something most potters left for their husbands or other relative to do for them.

Dominguita Pino Martinez (1860-1948) and Santiago Martinez were the parents of Antonita, as she was known. She changed her name to Tonita Montoya when she married her first husband and Tonita Roybal when she married her second husband, following the death of her first. She would continue to be known as Tonita Roybal after this second marriage in 1916.

Tonita and Juan Roybal had four children: José Ramos Roybal, Marie Roybal, painter J.D. Roybal and Potter Margaret Lou Roybal.

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

TAGS: J.D. Roybal, San Ildefonso Pueblo, Maria Martinez, pottery