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Q This bright red bowl has the word “Creek” and a triangle mark I have been told that this is considered Indian pottery, but it looks too contemporary. Do you have any information on this pottery?

A. Yes, the book, Frankoma and Other Oklahoma Potteries with Price Guide by Phyllis and Tom Bess gives information about potteries other than the well-known Frankoma, including the Creek Pottery of Checotah, Oklahoma

The Creek Indian Nation of Oklahoma became involved with Creek Pottery as a way to help reduce unemployment among their people. The Bureau of Indian Affairs was instrumental in creating this new business.

Chief W. E. “Dode” McIntosh helped start the project in 1969 He contacted his friend, John Frank of Frankoma Pottery, for help In 1970 John Frank started training workers to make pottery He donated equipment, materials, and personnel John Frank gave several molds from Frankoma Pottery to reproduce at the Creek Pottery

These include a teepee salt and pepper shaker set For his efforts, Frank was made an Honorary Chief for life of the Creek Nation

Other pieces you may find include figurines in the shape of mallard ducks, a horse, a duck egg cup, an owl bookend, an Indian head mug with tomahawk handle, an Indian g plant was built in to U S Highway ery was made oduction, the plant fifteen people. s wholesaled to businesses in Oklahoma and surrounding states It was also sold in the plant sales room and for a short time at a retail outlet near Macon, Georgia. Brochures were the sole means of advertising The business closed in early 1976.

The mark on your piece is a stylized teepee with the name Creek. Another method of marking the pottery was the use of stickers printed with “Authentic Indian Pottery, Made in Checotah, OK, USA ”

Values according to the Bess’s book range from $5 to $20 The horse figurine is $5-10 and the Indian head bank $15-20. To be frank with you, I am sorry they had to fold up their teepees and discontinue production They produced gorgeously-glazed pottery

Dr Georgia Caraway, former director of the Denton County Museums for 14 years, and her friends opened the Howe Mercantile at 107 East Haning Store hours are Thursday through Saturday noon until 8 p m She has written four Denton history books and has finished a 5th history about the North Texas State Fair and Rodeo that will be published in August She hopes her next book will be the history of Howe PLEASE SHOP LOCALLY We can show you Howe!