Traditional Iroquois Corn Husk "Salt" basket, Larger - Paul St John, Mohawk

Description

A traditional Iroquois corn husk basket - this one in the "salt basket" shape.  This basket has been made by Paul St John, Mohawk.  Twined corn husks are used to make this very ancient basket form.  A corn cob is used as the stopper for the basket.  This shape of corn husk basket was used to store salt.  Other shapes were used to store tobacco, seeds and various other items.
It is 7" in diameter at widest and 7" high to rim of the basket and corn cob stopper when inserted adds another 2" to the height. (9" high when corn cob stopper is inserted)  This is the largest twined corn husk basket by Paul that I have been able to offer.  The previous 5 or 6 (all sold) were about 5" high and 5" in diameter or less, one was about 4" in diameter and 3" high  "
Second to last photo shows a drawing of 2 ancient Iroquois corn husk salt baskets.  The smaller one drawn has a cop stopper.
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 sweetgrass/birchbark & porcupine quill 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.  Paul also makes historically accurate dolls, beaded Iroquois and Wabanaki regalia, bags, jewelry ... so much more...  Watch this store for more of his pieces.  Can't wait to see what he is going to create next.