San Ildephonse Plate Pottery By Juanita

ca. 1960

2.25″ H x 14.75″ D

Large Black on Black Clay Plate with Polished and Matte Geometric Pattern Signed Juanita

Excellent Condition

Juanita Wo-peen Gonzales (ne Archuleta) was born in 1909 at Taos Pueblo, New Mexico. Growing up, she had little exposure to pottery, as she was more drawn to traditional healing practices, and Taos had few active potters at the time. In the late 1920s, she married Louis Gonzales, a San Ildefonso Pueblo artist who had lost the use of his right arm in an accident. The couple moved to San Ildefonso, where Juanita learned pottery-making from her sister-in-law, Rose Gonzales (19091989), wife of Louis’s brother Robert. Rose was a pioneer in the carved pottery style that emerged at San Ildefonso in the 1930s, innovating beyond the classic black-on-black techniques popularized by Maria Martinez.

Juanita became an active potter from around 1930 until 1982, creating pieces during a transformative era for Pueblo pottery. She and Louis collaboratedJuanita shaped and carved the vessels, while Louis often added painted designs. Their daughter, Adelphia Gonzales Martinez, carried on the family tradition. Juanita was also involved in community work, including Head Start programs, elder initiatives, and attending the College of Santa Fe in the 1970s. She passed away in 1988 and shared a market booth with Adelphia in her later years.

Provenance: From the Len and Toni Wood Private Collection, Laguna Beach, California