Description

This beautiful bowl is a black-on-black color figuration. The main body is highly and skillfully polished, while the geometric designs are left in a flat matte finish which accentuates them nicely. Martha said this design pays homage to her mother’s pottery.

The matte feather and geometrics are beautifully painted, and sit atop a beautiful polish on the outside of the bowl. The design band begins just below the fluted rim.  It is in two sections containing a series of feathers followed by vertical lines and then abstract bird wings. Below this section are four triangular designs, possible representing the mountains or kiva steps. The interior of this bowl is coated in micaceous slip giving it a beautiful sparkle.

Born in San Ildefonso, Pueblo Martha Appleleaf is the daughter of Carmelita Dunlap (a niece of Maria Martinez) and sister of Carlos Sunrise Dunlap. Martha learned the art of making pottery from her mother, a woman who won an unprecedented 20 1st Place ribbons at the Santa Fe Indian Market.  Carmelita’s mother died when Carmelita was very young and she was raised by her aunts Desideria Montoya and Maria Martinez. They immersed her in the world of pottery making, teaching her everything they knew. Carmelita was considered Maria’s last direct protégé until she passed away in 2000.

Condition: Excellent – original condition – new.
Provenance: Acquired from Martha at Indian Market 2021.

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