Description
Traditional handmade Native American Indian Pottery from Indigenous Pueblos of the Southwest. Guaranteed authentic. Excellent vintage condition.
Experience the quiet, striking elegance of traditional San Ildefonso pottery with this vintage polished redware open bowl. While the Martinez family is globally famous for their black-on-black vessels, their redware pieces hold an equally important place in history, representing the natural, vibrant warmth of the local clay before the oxygen-reduction (smothering) firing process turns it black. This beautifully proportioned, open-top bowl relies entirely on its flawless, hand-coiled form and radiant surface rather than painted motifs to make its impact.
Hand-formed without the use of a potter’s wheel, the vessel’s surface was meticulously rubbed with a smooth river stone to achieve a soft, glowing polish that highlights the earthy terracotta hues. Pieces signed “Marie & Santana” date to a specific, highly collectible window of time (1943–1956) when Maria Martinez collaborated with her daughter-in-law. Carrying the gentle patina of time, this unadorned open bowl is a masterful study in minimalist form and a timeless piece of Southwestern history.
