Extremely rare Indian Statue made by John Nelson of What Cheer Pottery, What Cheer, Iowa. Noted in the book "What Cheer 100 Years", John Nelson was an artist with clay. He started his long career as a potter at the age of 13 in his hometown of Red Wing, Minnesota. In his mid thirties he was testing clay for E.G. Nelson the owner of the new pottery in What Cheer prior to its opening when he decided he would go to work for Mr. Nelson at the What Cheer Clay Products Co. He worked there for five years before stating his own plant. John Nelson was an extremely talented artist and could make almost anything out of clay a person could dream up and put down on paper. He is know for his lawn items, flower pots, fountains, urns, bird baths and figurals of frogs, match safes etc. John Nelson died in December 1962 at the age of 88. He worked in his plant until he was 79 years old spending more than 66 year to clay. For auction today is one of the largest pieces know to exist and signed by the artist. Inscribed at the bottom in free hand print "John Nelson". The figure of an Indian brave standing on a log with one leg is perched on a log with his hand resting near. His other hand is above his brow as to look over the countryside. The piece is made of traditional red colored What Cheer clay and features cold paint on the Indian's loin cloth, hair and feathered headdress and facial features. H 29" W 12" D 12"

Statue is in very fine condition a few areas with minor chips, on the fingers and at the base.