This is a fabulous circa 600 A.D. to 1400 A.D. Caddoan Mississippian human head pottery bowl / pot from the ex-collection of H.C. Wachtel (author of Who’s Who in Indian Artifacts 1960). The piece shows a clay pot with human face motif and a half round pierced hole tie off above the face and prominent rim. The inside has an old museum collection painted oval marked, “B 682” and on the bottom marked, “#682 YELL Co. ARK Frenier 5200 MC-1” and an oval collection sticker “276 B”. Comes with a letter / email from Jan Sorgenfrei confirming the pots provenance and history. Also comes with a picture of the pot in Jan Sorgenfrei’s Old Barn catalog and listing, “Human Head Pot from Yell Co. Arkansas – Ex. Wachtel Collection #13682 Ex. Frenier Collection, No. 5206MC-1 This pot was purchased directly from Mr. Wachtel by the late Paul Heller of Brownstown, Indiana”.
Provenance: From the ex-collection of Hubert Cloud Wachtel (H.C. Wachtel) author of the 1960 book “Who's Who in Indian Artifacts” (No. 1 in 1960 and No. 2 in 1968). Purchased directly from H.C. Wachtel by Paul Heller of Brownstown, Indiana; Ex-Frenier collection; Also from a large private Native American collection in Paris, France; sold by Jan Sorgenfrei’s Old Barn in 2009 for $3,277 (w/ bp) with the same provenance listed. Included in in the provenance is a personal letter from Jan Sorgenfrei (1942-2012) former owner of Old Barn in Findlay, Ohio and noted collector, which note this is 400 A.D. to 1400 A.D. Mississippi with rare motif and from Wachtel author of Who’s Who books estimated $2,000-$4,000. The pottery vessel is well kept with no visible major damage, chips or cracks. Measures overall 6-inches deep by 6-inches wide by 3.75-inches high.