The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 3, 2023

Plate with Painted Design

July, 1966

María Martinez

(San Ildefonso Pueblo, about 1887–1980)

and Popovi Da

(San Ildefonso Pueblo, 1921–1971)

Native North America, Southwest, New Mexico

Ceramic, slip

Overall: 5.6 x 30.3 x 5.6 cm (2 3/16 x 11 15/16 x 2 3/16 in.)

Gift of Frances and David Dickenson in memory of Sarah Dickenson and Jeffrey Cudlip 2003.348

Location

231 Native North American

Description

Maria Martinez was the matriarch of a large, multigenerational family of pottery makers, some active today, and she often collaborated with relatives. For instance, she fashioned this plate and her son, Popovi Da, painted it. The freehand design, precise and balanced, features mountains (the stepped forms at the center) streaked by rain or snow (the parallel lines); a scalloped motif representing water or clouds appears on the rim.

Inscriptions

Inscription

incised on bottom "Maria/Popovi 766"

Popovi Da

Da is the son of Maria Martinez.
Exhibition history

MOCA Cleveland (6/9/2006 - 8/20/2006): "The Persistence of Geometry: Form, Content and Culture in the Collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art", no. 106, p. 122.

The Persistence of Geometry: Form, Content and Culture in the Collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland (MOCA), Cleveland, OH (June 9-August 20, 2006).

Source URL: https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2003.348