Small Polychrome Jar from San Ildefonso Pueblo [SOLD]

Martina Vigil developed a vessel shape that is somewhat unique to early San Ildefonso pottery.  She started with the standard classic Tewa water jar shape, lowered the mid-section bulge, extended the neck and exaggerated the rolled-out rim.  This jar is a small version of the larger ones she made in this form.

Martina Vigil (1856-1916) and Florentino Montoya (1858-1918) have been praised as among the finest artisans at San Ildefonso. Jonathan Batkin has illustrated a couple of their works in his book Pottery of the Pueblos of New Mexico 1700-1940, and he illustrated additional ones in a 1987 issue of American Indian Art Magazine article “Martina Vigil and Florentino Montoya: Master Potters of San Ildefonso and Cochiti Pueblos.”

When Maria Martinez was a little girl, she used to watch Florentino and Martina make pots. "Their styles and techniques influenced Maria in her methods of pottery making.  Maria Martinez later recalled him: “But this Florentino, he was old, and he painted, oh, very good.”  Spivey, 1979:23

One must remember Martina and Florentino passed away in 1916 and 1918 respectively.  This was long before pottery of such mastery was made for sale to tourists or collectors.  Why would Martina make a small version of her standard jar so early in the 20^th century and long before tourists were visiting?  Most likely, one of the Santa Fe merchants encouraged her to do so as he had buyers at that time and not everyone wanted the larger size jars.

This is a beautiful example of Martina’s and Florentino’s work, encompassing a great many of the characteristics for which their pottery is so well known and highly regarded—the thin, high-fired walls, low-shouldered profile reminiscent of Tsankawi Black-on-white and Tewa Polychrome jars with long neck and sharply-everted rim, slip extending down to the base of the jar, slip deep inside the neck with painted design and exterior designs incorporating birds and cloud symbols.

Condition:  very good condition.  Examination by UV does not reveal any repair or restoration.

Recommended Reading:  “Martina Vigil and Florentino Montoya: Master Potters of San Ildefonso and Cochiti Pueblos” by Jonathan Batkin, American Indian Art Magazine, Autumn, 1987.

Provenance: from a collection in Houston, Texas