Rick Bowman Bowl

This Native American bowl was created by our friend Rick Bowman. Rick’s pieces are absolutely authentic and are produced in the same way the originals were.

Rick’s studies in archeology lead him to early works produced in the Southeast. These everyday utilitarian pieces are often viewed as some of the finest artwork ever produced on this continent. His fascination led him to study every aspect of how these pieces were fashioned. He even went so far as to determine the make up of the clay used.

Rick starts each piece as the ancient Creeks and their ancestors did. He digs the clay from the same sources they did. He then coil builds each piece by hand. The pots are allowed to dry near an open fire. After drying thoroughly a fire using pine straw and small pine limbs is built atop the pot. This produces a rather sturdy piece that will hold water. These beautiful objects are often used in the 18th century camps of living historian. They are also highly prized by collectors.

This bowl contains relics found around the Southeastern states. They were surface finds on private land with the owners permission. The broken pieces of pottery all bear some sort of embossed pattern. There are two gun flints, probably Native made. The crushed button with the swastika came from an early 19th century site used by the Creeks. The shell was worn strung around the neck as evidenced by the crudely drilled holes. The gamestone was found in a cornfield near Pell City, Alabama. A.R.

Photos by Jan Riser.