Chickadee of quill #4 :oval coil sweetgrass basket: Paul St John, Mohawk

Description

A cheery chickadee of porcupine quills perches on a pine branch on a birch bark medallion on an oval coiled sweetgrass basket by Paul St John, Mohawk craftsman.  The chickadee of dyed black quills and natural white quills sits on a green dyed quill pine branch.  It is on a birchbark medallion with an inner border of natural white quills with darker ends left on.  This is the 4th Chickadee basket similar to this one that I have offered.  Every one is unique and ...this one is has a winter pine branch with yellowed green pine needles -as in winter.  The branch is unique -- each shaped differently and this chickadee sits more upright than some of its' predecessors and is pleasingly plump.   Looks like the adorable chickadees I see midwinter with feathers puffed out to insulate them from the cold Maine winter.
This basket is 5.5" long and 4.5" across.  It is 2.25" high.  The birchbark medallion on the top is 4" long and 3" across.
Last photo in slideshow is of Paul with 2 of his other works.   Paul St. John lives in Maine, his mother is Passamaquoddy.  He grew up on the Mohawk lands in New York, his father's homeland and is an enrolled Mohawk tribal member.  - When I saw his work I knew immediately I needed to offer his great baskets.  While quill work and coiled sweetgrass baskets are  historically Maine Indian traditional crafts, currently no one but Paul St. John is actively practicing this craft.  -  Passamaquoddy basketmakers, Jeremy Frey and Otter, both have used some quill work on their baskets...  but quill work on coiled sweetgrass baskets are Paul St John's specialty.  Watch this store for more of his pieces.  Can't wait to see what he is going to create next.