River OTTER: Larger oval coiled sweetgrass basket w/birch bark -P St John-Mohawk

Description

OTTER!
For fans of Paul St John's amazing wildlife porcupine quill & sweetgrass baskets - Paul's first OTTER has arrived!  This otter is of porcupine quill on a birch bark medallion atop the lid of a larger oval coiled sweetgrass basket, by Paul St John, Mohawk craftsman.
The North American River Otter lives in Maine - many live along the rocky Atlantic coast of Maine while others can be found in the numerous ponds, lakes, rivers, streams of inland Maine as well as along the tidal estuaries, bays and inlets of Maine's rocky and long coastline.  (While the Northern American River Otter - does live on the Maine sea coast and swim in Maine's Atlantic Ocean- it is not the species "Sea Otter".  Sea Otters are not a species that lives in Maine - they live in the Pacific Ocean)
These large (3-4 feet in length) playful animals are not frequently seen as they are mostly nocturnal animals.
This larger 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 7.5" long, 6" across and 2.5" high.  The birch bark medallion at center top is 6" long and 4" across.   The otter's body is made of  dyed brown, gray, and natural white porcupine quills.  It's nose and eyes are of black dyed quills.   There is a border of  natural white quill around the outside of the birch bark medallion.
Second photo in slideshow is of a Northern River Otter.    Last photo in slideshow is of Paul.   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.
Paul has made many quill animals, fox, bear, beaver, deer, wolf, skunk, raccoon, rabbit, moose - and even more birds, cardinal, eagle, loon, blue jay, hawk, hummingbird, great blue heron, chickadee - Many many others   - see if your favorite is in this ebay store.
He not only does sweetgrass coil baskets and porcupine quill work on birch bark -- but also amazing dolls, Iroquois beadwork, MicMac beadwork,  great moccasins, knife sheaths, medicine bags and so much more!  He is truly a man of many (many many) talents!
Watch this store for more of his pieces.  Can't wait to see what he is going to create next.