About the Object

This three-color San Ildefonso polychrome pot features white slip with black and red painted decoration. The form of this San Ildefonso polychrome pot follows traditional 17th- and 18th-century Tewa pottery as the vessel consists of an outward rim, elongated neck, and bulging mid-body. There are two main bands of decoration with a middle band design consisting of black contoured circles with red dots. The neck band includes black and red triangular motifs that can represent feathers or leaves. The body decoration is red stepped patterns with possibly feather designs.

Additional Information

This polychrome pot is currently attributed to two married couples: Martina Vigil and Florentino Montoya, and Crescencio and Anna Martinez. Both of these husband-and-wife pottery teams worked throughout the 19th and 20th century creating similar 17th- and 18th century Tewa-inspired jars with flaring rims, shoulder band designs, and protruding bodies. With unsigned pots, such as this one, it can be difficult to attribute the appropriate makers but not impossible as the next best step is to pay close attention to signature styles.