Martinez, Clara

Marie and Julian Martinez had four sons: Adam (1903-2000), John (1915-1966), Popovi Da (1922-1971) and Phillip (1925-1966). John, also known as “Juan Diego,” was the husband of Clara Silva Martinez. Everyone who came into Maria’s household for any period of time learned how to make pottery. Clara was no exception. However, she made very little pottery on her own.

Maria said, of the boys, John liked school, he liked to read, he liked to study. After his discharge from the Army at the end of World War II, he attended Stanford. After graduation he returned to San Ildefonso. He became a professional engineer, but also found time to paint a few paintings.

John made some pottery, signing simply “John” on the bottom. Clara’s pottery was signed “Clara Martinez” on the bottom. Her pottery is sometimes confused with that of Clara Montoya, Maria’s younger sister. Clara Montoya’s pottery is equally rare but is also less mature in its execution. It is also a generation older in the development of black-black styles at San Ildefonso.