Vintage Maria Martinez San Ildefonso Pueblo Pottery Bowl Unsigned

Description

From a Tucson, Arizona collector's estate:
A very early highly polished blackware bowl by
the
most famous Pueblo pottery artist, Maria Martinez.<
Early works by Maria and Julian Martinez made approximately between the years of 1918 to 1923 are unsigned.  Then for the next several years she signed her pieces “Marie”.
When Maria began signing pottery, she was told, probably by Kenneth Chapman, an ethnologist and early sponsor of Pueblo arts, that “Marie” was a more  familiar  name than “Maria” to the non-Indian public. She therefore signed the name “Marie” for about 30 years.  Following the publication of Alice Marriott's book, Maria: The Potter of San Ildefonso, she began signing  her true name, "Maria".
Maria's great talent was forming, shaping and exquisitely polishing the pottery. She was, at heart, a potter.
Maria often made pottery without the design assistance of Julian, her son Adam, or her daughter-in-law Santana. These are always highly polished, un-decorated pieces that are spectacularly graceful in their simplicity. These works exhibit the true nature of her genius.
Here we have an example of an early, unsigned work of Maria. Highly polished and perfectly formed, the bowl is perfectly symmetrical. The thickness is absolutely uniform which is very difficult to achieve. The bowl has a beautiful "feel" when held.
Obviously, it is problematic to attribute an unsigned bowl to a specific artist. I am basing the identification on the style and quality of the bowl which fits perfectly with known unsigned bowls by Maria.
In addition, I have shown the bowl to two experienced dealers with great expertise in pottery by Maria Martinez.
They both agreed that the bowl is by Maria. I cannot share their names in this ad, but I will supply a screenshot of an email from one of them to the eventual buyer.
Unfortunately the bowl has some condition issues: the interior is scuffed and there is wear on the base. There are scratches along the exterior and two flakes along the rim.
Please examine all photographs and ask any questions before bidding.
Carefully packed shipping is .95.