Russell Sanchez #32901

$4,800.00

This new plate by Russell is stunning. Inspired by the work of Florentino Montoya, who was an exceptional potter from San Ildefonso (1858-1918) Russell rotates the colors and images on the piece. The colors Russel uses are derived from natural clays. Many of these same clays were used in San Ildefonso when the polychrome painted pottery was present in the 1880’s.

Russell’s imagery on this plate is uniquely his own even though it was inspired by the early potters. The white slipped center shows a flower image. You can see that the individual red drops, representing rain, in the center of the plate, has a different design in their interior. A row of fine turquoise Heishi shell is embedded above the classic dots. The checkboard design acts as a border below the highly polished deep red edge of the plate. The alternating black polished and matte squares represent corn. Repeating the dots, that border is complete. Everything fits so well together – using the clay as a palette for his drawing. It is a beautiful new work of art.

6 ¼” wide

Categories: , Artist:

Russell Sanchez

San Ildefonso

Russell Sanchez was born at the San Ildefonso Pueblo. He has continued to live there all his life. Russell started making pottery at a very young age. If you could see his pots from when he was thirteen or so – you would be able to tell that a great talent was emerging! Russell was greatly influenced by his aunt, Rose Gonzales, and was futher encouraged by Dora Tse Pe. Like Russell, Dora is also a perfectionist. But Russell is really a self-taught potter. His incising, carving, and polishing techniques are all his own – developed and evolving over many years of hard work.

His work is widely accepted by serious collectors of some of the finest Native American pottery made today. He often introduces different materials into the clay while styaing within the traditional construction and firing techniques of pueblo pottery. Russell has won numerous awards and honors in juried shows every year since 1978. He has works in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian Institute, the Millicent Rogers Museum, the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture (Santa Fe) and the Museum of Natural History (Los Angeles). It is an honor to work closely with Russell, and represent him in our gallery.

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