CARDINAL of quill #13; Birchbark/coiled sweetgrass basket - Paul St.John-Mohawk

Description

Cardinals are a common sight in southern areas of Maine.  Here in mid-coast Maine they are rather rare.  What a treat to see their red contrasting with the spring snow and to hear their unmistakable song when they are around! This is the 13th cardinal basket by Paul St John, Mohawk artist, that I have offered.  Each one is different. This one, #13, sits on a pine bough in winter - with the pine needles a winter yellow/green (of dyed porcupine quill) and the branch of brown dyed quills. Some previous cardinals sat on all green pine branches. Most others have been relatively smaller, this is a larger cardinal and taking up much of the medallion.  The cardinal has red feathers with an yellow beak and black face. The red, black and yellow are dyed porcupine quill.  The red quills have the natural darker tips left on ... and Paul uses these to give this bird a realistic variegated color. The naturally darker ends of the quills are utilized by Paul to give realism and definition to the cardinal's head, wings and neck.   This oval basket has birch bark at center of lid and used as the bottom -  then coiled tidal sweetgrass on sides and at rim of cover.  It is 5.5" long,  4.75" across and 2.25" high.  The birch bark medallion at center top is 4" long by 3" wide.    This has a natural white porcupine quill border around the center birch bark medallion.
Last photo in slideshow is of Paul and a friend.  -  Photo illustrates Paul's real connection with the creatures he depicts in his work  Paul St. John lives in Maine, his mother is Maliseet/Passamaquoddy/MicMac.  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.