Rose Gonzales Signed Santa Clara Pueblo Blackware Pottery Bowl Hand-Coiled Pot For Sale

This is a museum-worthy, hand-coiled blackware pottery bowl signed by the legendary Rose Cata Gonzales (1900–1989) of the Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico. Rose Gonzales is one of the most important names in Native American pottery history—widely credited with pioneering the deep-carved blackware technique and influencing generations of Pueblo potters.

This particular piece showcases her earlier or minimally adorned style—elegantly simple, yet rich in craftsmanship and tradition. It was hand-formed, stone-burnished, and pit-fired using reduction firing, producing the iconic deep black coloration for which Santa Clara pottery is celebrated.

• Artist: Rose Gonzales (signed, see signature section)

• Origin: Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico

• Form: Rounded bowl with inward-curving rim and wide mouth

• Surface: Glossy black finish (stone burnished), matte interior

• Technique: Traditional hand-coiling and reduction firing

• Dimensions: Approx. 5” diameter x 2.75” tall

• Material: Clay, stone burnished and pit-fired

This bowl is a rare and valuable collector’s piece, suitable for both private collections and institutional display.

The bowl is signed in pencil/graphite on the base:

"Rose Gonzales Santa Clara" (faint but legible under magnification)

This style of signature is entirely consistent with Rose Gonzales’s known works from the mid-20th century, where she often signed her smaller or undecorated pieces lightly in graphite rather than with carved or incised marks.

You’ll also find a catalog or inventory number "350" written in pencil, which likely originated from a collector or gallery.

Multiple close-up photographs of the base are provided for transparency and verification.

• In the image (with the number “350”), directly above it appears to be a lightly written, cursive name.

• The form of the letters to the upper right of “350” look consistent with the looped “R” and rounded “ose” commonly seen in Rose Gonzales’s known graphite signatures.

• Though faint, you can distinguish a flowing first name, likely "Rose", followed by a soft curve and some trailing letters that resemble “Gonzales” in her stylized handwriting.

• The signature location, medium (graphite/pencil), and formation are highly consistent with her documented signature style from the mid-20th century, which was often discreet and faint.

Supporting Characteristics:

• Pencil/Graphite signature: Rose Gonzales frequently signed this way, especially on smaller or undecorated pieces.

• Absence of carved designs: While she’s famed for carved pottery, she also created plain polished bowls, especially earlier or for smaller pieces.

• Catalog number “350” does not appear to relate to her personally, but was likely added by a collector, dealer, or gallery.

• Originally from San Juan Pueblo, Rose married into Santa Clara Pueblo and revolutionized Pueblo pottery with her deep carved blackware in the 1930s.

• She is recognized as the first Pueblo potter to carve designs into blackware, creating a new style that influenced an entire generation.

• Her work is included in collections at the Smithsonian, Heard Museum, and Museum of Indian Arts & Culture.

• Rose continued making pottery into the 1980s, leaving behind an enduring legacy.

• Overall Condition: Excellent vintage condition

• No cracks, chips, or repairs

• Exterior: Polished black surface is largely intact with only minor surface scuffing and age-appropriate wear

• Interior: Matte-finished with subtle signs of use or age

• Base: Light wear and patina, signature faint but present; inventory number "350" also visible

• Hand-Formed Irregularities: Slight natural asymmetries consistent with traditional coil-built pottery; adds to authenticity and character

This piece is structurally sound, professionally preserved, and visually stunning.

Signed Rose Gonzales pottery—especially blackware bowls with documentation—are increasingly sought after by collectors. Comparable signed pieces range from $600 to $1,200+ depending on form and finish. This is a smart acquisition for those interested in 20th-century Indigenous art, Southwestern ceramics, or museum-quality Native American artifacts.