Sandy and I decided to drive back to the Pueblo of San Ildelfonso this morning since it was closed to non-Indians on our last attempt. Today, the weather was brutally windy; nonetheless, we had a pleasant outing and found the Pueblo residents most welcoming. The pueblo contains adobe buildings, a ceremonial kiva, a large central plaza, and a 1905 church built on the remains of a 17th-century mission church. San Ildefonso is famous for the technique of producing matte and polished black-on-black pottery popularized in the early 20th century by Maria and Julian Martinez. I acquired the 2 x 3 inch serpent-themed pottery vase pictured below at a pueblo shop owned and run by two well known traditional potters, Alfred Aguilar and his son.
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San Ildelfonso Pueblo Pottery Vase by Alfred Aguilar, circa 2012 |
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Church at the San Ildelfonso Pueblo |