Maria Martinez

Native American
(1887–1980)

Julian Martinez (aka Pocano)

Native American
(1879–1943)

Plate
circa 1936

Earthenware
1 x 6 x 6 in.
Gift of Gertrude Shurr and Rachael Dunaven Yocom
1990.19

Julian Martinez’s Plate is a stunning example of the black-on-black technique he and his wife María developed in the early twentieth century. Plate showcases their signature burnished blackware look, which was a radical departure from traditional polychrome approaches to Pueblo vessels. The contrasting glossy and matte finishes on the surface of Plate became their specialty. The small scale of Plate is unusual for the Martinezes’ work.

Julian Martinez was the patriarch of the famed San Ildefonso Pueblo Martinez family. While his wife María is seen as the primary force behind the family’s creative success in ceramics, Julian made important contributions to the development of María’s technique. In addition to his work in ceramics, Julian also painted scenes of Pueblo rituals in watercolor and murals at the Santa Fe Indian School. Beyond his career as an artist, Julian served as the governor of the San Ildefonso Pueblo.

Matthew Limb

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This object was included in the following exhibitions:

• Ceramic Case 6: Nature as Inspiration (left) and Maria Martinez (right) , 8/17/2012 - 10/17/2013
• ARTH 4790 & 6790: History of American Studio Craft (Ceramics) , 2/6/2015 - 10/9/2015
• Transcendence: Abstraction & Symbolism in the American West , 9/1/2015 - 12/10/2016
• Unearthed , 8/23/2022 - 5/14/2023
• SC Fall 24 - Native American Ceramics of the Southwest , 8/13/2024 - 5/2/2025

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