This photograph from the 1940s shows the home of Maude French Welch (1894-1953), a renowned Cherokee potter. Upon close inspection, Welch can be seen shaping pottery on her front porch at the far left of the house. In the center of the photograph, in front of the house, is a sign that reads, "Indian Pottery Made-Sold Here." Welch was born near Cooper's Creek in the Bird Town section of the Qualla Boundary. Her pottery was formed and carved from local clay, using no wheels, molds, or instruments other than small knives in its shaping. At the time of this photograph, she had been making pottery for 28 years. She turned out pieces entirely by hand, polished them by burnishing, dried them in the sun or her cooking oven, and then dropped the...