AFA Winter 2019

Antiques & Fine Art 77 2019 Rondina Huma (born 1947), who grew up in the Hopi village of Polacca, is one of the most famous contemporary potters to appropriate Sikyátki sherd designs, turning them into geometric patterns of extraordinary complexity (Fig. 4). From a pueblo north of Santa Fe, San Ildefonso potters are celebrated for their elegant black-on-black pottery. Maria Montoya Martinez (1887–1980) popularized the black-ware style (Fig. 5) but her earliest pieces were polychromes, as were those made by her uncle and aunt, Florentino Montoya (1858–1918) and Martina Vigil (1856–1916), who taught her. Martinez was the first potter to consistently sign her pieces, beginning in 1923. She collaborated with her husband Julian (ca. 1885–1943), son Popovi Da (1922–1971), and daughter-in-law Santana Roybal (1909–2002). She also fostered the talent of grandson Tony Da (1940 –2008), acclaimed for his innovative designs and meticulous technique. The family line continues through multiple direct and indirect descendants. Great-granddaughter Barbara Gonzales (born 1947), for instance, combines black-on-black decoration with sgraffito (incising) and inset stones, often incorporating spiders, a symbol of good luck (Fig. 6). Gonzales’s sons also make pottery, including Cavan Gonzales (born 1970), who returned to making boldly decorated polychromes (Fig. 7). Dora Tse-Pe (born 1939) uses subtle black and brown effects and inset turquoise or coral to decorate her pots (Fig. 8). Born at Zia Pueblo, she learned pottery first from her mother, Fig. 9: Linda Cain (Santa Clara, born 1949), Jar , 1992. Earthenware, 8 x 5 (diam.) inches. Crocker Art Museum; Gift of Loren G. Lipson, M.D. (2016.79); Autumn Borts-Medlock (Santa Clara, born 1967), Dragonfly Pot, n.d. Earthenware, 13 x 13 inches. Crocker Art Museum purchase, with funds provided by Loren G. Lipson, M.D., and the Martha G. and Robert G. West Fund (2018.62); Tammy Garcia (Santa Clara, born 1969), Northwest Native Bear , 1999. Earthenware, 12 x 10 (diam.) inches. Crocker Art Museum; Gift of Loren G. Lipson, M.D. (2017.64); Christina Naranjo (Santa Clara, 1891–1980) and Mary Cain (Santa Clara, 1915–2010), Vessel with Avanyu , n.d. Earthenware, 13½ x 9 (diam.) inches. Crocker Art Museum; Gift of Loren G. Lipson, M.D. (2014.1.22).