Majestic Bull MOOSE- Quill, Birchbark /coil sweetgrass basket: P St.John-Mohawk

Description

Magnificent bull moose of porcupine quills walks amid green dyed grasses across this coiled sweetgrass/birch bark basket by Paul St John, Mohawk craftsman. The moose's horns are of dyed black quill and it's body of dyed brown quill.  The quilled moose is on an oval medallion surrounded by natural undyed porcupine quills at the center of the coiled sweetgrass lid.   5th moose on this size basket by Paul that I have been able to offer - I believe this is the first one where the bull moose's large antlers are black with the moose's body of brown - 2 toned.  (all Paul's work is hand done and there are other differences between moose baskets as well -)
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.  This basket is slightly larger than most of Pau's similar oval baskets.  It is 5.75" long,  4.5" across and 2.5" high.  The birch bark medallion at center top is 4.25" long by 3" wide.   There is a natural white porcupine quill inner border around the lid's birchbark medallion.
While moose can be found nearly everywhere in Maine - they are most prevalent in northern Maine.  Here in Maine's mid-coast region I have seen a moose (or a small family of moose) on my small farm/woods a handful of times.  Each time a moose appears I am startled at how truly large they are.  A Maine icon and a beast of nearly pre-historic proportions and mystery.  This particular moose by Paul shows a bull's huge antlers, it's dewlap under it's jaw and it's sloped back hump.  You can almost see it's odd moose gait - slightly awkward, clumsy yet... not.
Last ph
oto 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 Passamaquoddy, MicMac and Maliseet.  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 in Maine 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 St John also makes a variety of dolls, birch bark containers, knife sheaths, barrettes, beaded necklaces, earrings and barrettes as well as Iroquois beading on pillows, needle cases, dolls and more.  He makes corn husk masks and baskets and - so much more....
Watch this store for more of his pieces.  Can't wait to see what he is going to create next.