Pot c. 1920 - 1940

This pot was made by Maria Martinez, a Tewa artist from San Ildefonso Pueblo, likely in the early to mid-20th century, using micaceous clay and traditional firing techniques. The pot’s striking black-on-black surface is achieved through a burnishing and smoking process unique to the region. The clay is carefully smoothed, then pit-fired in a reducing atmosphere, which turns the surface black. The high shine comes from intense, sustained polishing by hand. The shape itself is timeless, a gently curving vessel with a narrow opening. Martinez was at the heart of a cultural revival. Her pots became highly sought after, and helped support her community. The process involves backbreaking labor, from digging and preparing the clay, to the physical exertion of polishing, to the inherent risks of firing. But it is this very investment of labor, and the deep knowledge of the materials, that gives the pot its extraordinary presence. Looking closely at this pot, we realize that it bridges the traditional and the modern, the functional and the artistic. It’s a testament to the power of craft to embody cultural identity and economic resilience.