Martha Appleleaf Avanyu Serpent Ribbon Pot San Ildenfonso Pueblo

 Ribbon Winning San Ildenfonso Pueblo Avanyu Serpent Pot by Martha Appleleaf

Dimensions:-

Length: 6"

Width: 8"

Opening: 4 1/2"

Tribe: San Ildenfonso 

Item #: 400017

Artist:

Martha Appleleaf,

SAN ILDEFONSO PUEBLO ARTIST 

Born into San Ildefonso Pueblo in November, 1950, 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, who are award-winning potters and internationally known. They immersed her in the world of pottery making, teaching her everything they knew. Carmelita was considered Maria's last direct protege until she died in 2000.

Martha grew up making pottery with her mother and her siblings. She still makes pottery with her siblings and has also passed the art on to her son, Erik Fender, who is also an accomplished potter. She often experimented with different clays and techniques and invented a green slip on red clay palette. Her son transferred that discovery onto black matte ware. “She discovered that by accident,” Fender said. “She said, ‘I ruined my pots; I don’t know what happened, they were intended to be the buff-on-red style.’” The welcomed new look became her signature style, as well as her son’s. “We’ve been doing that so long that now it’s considered traditional,” Fender said.

Martha has been an active potter since 1970. She continues to do both black on black and classic red pottery as well as polychrome and a couple more modern styles. She has earned 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place ribbons at Santa Fe Indian Market and Eight Northern Pueblos Indian Arts and Crafts Show.