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Maria Martinez Black Pottery |
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The Oakland Museum Women’s Board would like to thank the patron who purchased the Maria Martinez black pot that was donated as part of the annual White Elephant Sale.
The piece had been authenticated by the Oakland Museum staff and is signed “Marie+Julian”.
The pot, which measures approximately 7.5” high by 4.5” in diameter, raised $2,000 for the Oakland Museum of California.
Click here for photos of the item.
About the Artist
Maria Montoya Martinez (1897-1980) and her husband, Julian Martinez, (1897-1943) were both from San Ildefonso Pueblo near Santa Fe, NM. Maria made the pots and Julian painted them.
By 1918 the team had perfected the “black on black” pottery technique. The pottery is characterized by having a high gloss black with black matte decorations. Early in their careers, approximately 1918 to 1923, the work was unsigned.
From approximately 1920 to 1925 when pottery was considered “women’s work,” only Maria signed the pots. Her signature was “Marie”, the anglicized version of her name. Julian’s name was added in 1925 and the pots were then signed “Marie+Julian” until the latter’s death in 1943.
After Julian’s death, Marie continued to produce pots with her daughter-in- law, Santana, and with her son, Popovi.
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