This is a circa 1400-1500 Mississippian Quapaw polychrome painted head pot from Lee County, Arkansas from the renowned Bill Rowlette collection and pictured in The Redskin Volume VII Number 2. For reference of other head pots from the Bill Rowlette / Rowlett collection see the Mississippian Polychrome Head Pot from Bill Rowlett which sold at Heritage Auctions November 2017 auction for $21,250. This pot was executed in 1923 in Lee County, Arkansas near Brickeys Town along the St. Francis River from the Bill Rowlette collection. The pot exhibits a clay vessel with human head man’s face with prominent features and a tattoo like incised engraved or etched design. The ears, which stick out past the pot are each pierced five times. The top shows a prominent double stepped rim. The bottom has an old collection sticker marked, “LEE CO. ARK.” In script written with a fountain pen and again another old collection tag, “Rowlette 2461”. The piece shows remnants of red, tan and grey mineral pigment coloring. Provenance: From the ex-collection of Bill Rowlette (Bill Rowlett) renowned collector of head pot’s and other prehistoric artifacts; illustrated / pictured in The Redskin Volume VII Number 2 by the Genuine Indian Relic Society 1972; Found in Lee County Arkansas in a 1923 excavation near Brickeys Town along the St. Francis River. For other examples of Mississippian head pots, especially with a tattooed like finish see the example in the Hampson Museum State Park in Wilson, Arkansas State University Museum piece from the Nodena Site near Wilson and the 1350-1550 Headpot in the Detroit Institute of Arts collection. All these and other examples are incredibly similar to our example showing prominent facial features, slit like opening eyes, ears that are pierced each multiple times, prominent tattooing etching along the entire face and a two stepped opening or top rim. Accompanied by a small piece of paper with the provenance written on it. The pot is well kept with a small chip at the top otherwise no other major damages. Measures 7-inches across by 6-inches deep by 6-inches high. This example is truly astounding, with a larger size than the Heritage example and truly historic and beautiful tattoo etching.