2014.26.3 Black-on-black jar with geometric designs (San Ildefonso Pueblo, New Mexico)

This black-on-black jar by famed Pueblo artist Maria Martinez combines ancient Indian symbolism and ceramic techniques with a sleek austerity akin to 20th-century American design aesthetics. Martinez began experimenting with blackware following a commission from archaeologists to re-create ancient Indian pottery excavated near San Ildefonso, New Mexico. Working with members of her family, here her husband, Julian, Martinez spent seventy years practicing early firing processes and perfecting hew own iconic polished designs set within a matte band and a polished background. 

This impressive blackware jar has a wide lip that slopes outward through the neck and shoulder of the vessel. From the prominent shoulder, the jar tapers elegantly back to rest on a narrow base. Only the upper zones of the vessel bear decoration, utilizing the black-on-black painting technique developed by Julian Martinez between 1919 and 1921. The burnished black surface, which provides an impressive sheen to the vessel, is visually contrasted by textured surfaces resulting from applied slip paints. The contrasting textures form bold geometric or abstract patterns around the wide prominent neck of the jar, capturing and reflecting light in complementary opposition. The designs feature broad diamonds, zigzags, and swirls. Two parallel bands—one formed by a solid painted surface and the other by evenly-spaced squares—encircle the shoulder of the vessel, framing the painted surface. This necklace jar with its fluid contour was a common form made by Maria throughout her career. Over her lifetime, Martinez's exemplary craftsmanship became an emblem for Pueblo artistry and cultural heritage.

Martinez_María: ULAN: 500127102

Martinez_Julian: ULAN: 500127100

Southwestern North American styles (Pre-Columbian): AAT: 300016920

Pueblo (Native American style): AAT: 300017746

San Ildefonso (Rio Grande Pueblo culture / Native American style): AAT: 300017754

New Mexico (state/United States): TGN: 7007566

Southwest (general region): TGN: 4010660

San Ildefonso Pueblo (inhabited place): TGN: 7014551

San Ildefonso Indian Reservation: TGN: 2067485

ceramic (material): AAT: 300235507

clay: AAT: 300010439

slip (clay): AAT: 300010459

slip glaze: AAT: 300015110

paint (coating): AAT: 300015029

modeling (forming): AAT: 300053130

coiling (pottery technique): AAT: 300053903

firing (technique): AAT: 300053887

burnishing (polishing): AAT: 300053869

vessels (containers): AAT: 300193015

jars (vessels): AAT: 300195347

ritual vessels: AAT: 300265801

ritual objects: AAT: 300312158

portable: AAT: 300256252

black (color): AAT: 300130920

geometric abstraction: AAT: 300056509

geometric motifs: AAT: 300009764

geometric patterns: AAT: 300165213

geometric shape: AAT: 300263819

diamonds (motifs): AAT: 300009791

zigzags (geometric patterns): AAT: 300165028

scrolls (spirals/motifs): AAT: 300010094

spirals (geometric figures): AAT: 300163114

parallel (positional attributes): AAT: 300010284

lines (geometric concept): AAT: 300056279

bands (decorative): DMA

squares (geometric figures): AAT: 300055637

triangles (polygons): AAT: 300009806

circles (plane figures): AAT: 300055627

dots (geometric motif): AAT: 300010145

frets (pattern): AAT: 300010155

fretwork: AAT: 300165040

stepped frets (meanders (patterns)/motifs): AAT: 300010171

step pattern: AAT: 300010229

borders (ornament areas): AAT: 300010252

From 1929-d. 1948: Frederick Bradley Orman, Sr. (d. 1948) and Ella Catherine Matty Orman, Pueblo, Colorado and Franklinton, Louisiana, purchased from the artists [1]

1948-d. 1983: his son, Frederick Bradley Orman, Jr., Pueblo, Colorado and Franklinton, Louisiana, by inheritance [1]

1983-2014: his daughter, Cathy Orman Castille, Baton Rouge, by inheritance [1]

From 2014: Dallas Museum of Art, The Otis and Velma Davis Dozier Fund, purchased from Shango Galleries, Dallas (John A. Buxton, dealer) [1]

[1] The main source for this provenance is existing provenance information in TMS. Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.

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