Little Heart Ceramics in 1959 to produce ceramic figurines of cattle for his branding iron customers. Little Heart's main business consisted of these cattle figurines plus they produced specialty advertising items. A variety of items were produced; including figurines of animals, ashtrays, paperweights, vases, and salt and pepper shakers. Little Heart was fortunate to be able to purchase molds from the Messers when their operation ended. Especially useful to the company were the cattle molds in four different sizes. In addition, oil derricks, a coyote, and elevators were made from Messer molds. Little Heart ended operations in 1968. Three Tribes Three Tribes Stoneware Inc began as a training project on the Fort Berthhold Indian Reservation at New Town, North Dakota in 1967. Jim Walker, a native of Wisconsin served as director. Three Tribes began as a training project for Indians at Fort Berthhold in 1966 and then used the potters that were trained there for production of modern stoneware. Emmaline Blake, Mary Elk, Sadie Young Bear and Elizabeth Morsette all were trained in the project and later worked for the company. Three Tribes Stoneware produced contemporary Indian Stoneware until it closed in 1975. The stoneware produced by Three Tribes was marked on the bottom with an incised 3TS symbol. Collectability All of the above pottery products have become highly collectible and are sought after by collectors throughout the United States. For information on collecting North Dakota Pottery or on the potteries themselves, especially for pictures of the various pottery, see the North Dakota Pottery Collectors Society web site. References Darlene Dommel, Collectors Encyclopedia of Dakota Potteries, Collector Books, 1996. Darlene Dommel, Collectors Encyclopedia of Rosemeade Potteries, Collector Books, 2000. Donald Miller, University of North Dakota Pottery; The Cable Years, 1999. Jim Wiege and Audrey & Darrel Spencer, Little Heart, 1999. External links UND School of Mines Dickota WPA Ceramics Turtle Mountain Rosemeade Ceramics by Messer Little Heart Ceramics Three Tribes Ceramics American pottery North Dakota culture University of North Dakota