LOON, quill & birch bark picture frame-w/cattails 10.5"; Paul St John-Mohawk

Description

A loon floats atop this birch bark picture frame made by Paul St John, Mohawk craftsman.  The loon and cattails on either side and bottom of this frame are of porcupine quill - the birch bark frame which is bound with tidal sweetgrass.
At the outer edge of this frame there is a natural white quill border - which really contrasts beautifully with the darker birch bark of the frame.
Here the loon shows it's eerie red eye.  The loon, it's eye, the blue water  and the cattails are all of dyed porcupine quills (except for loon's white chest and other white markings. The loon is one of Maine's most beloved and iconic birds. Paul's porcupine quill loons grace some of beloved works - (of course all of Paul's work is handmade and every loon basket is unique!)  The loon's eerie call is heard in the Great North woods on ponds and along Maine's rocky shores.
If you have been lucky enough to encounter a loon while kayaking, canoeing or swimming - you know these are quite large birds, about 3' long.
This oval birch bark frame is roughly 10.5" long and 6.75" at widest across.  The oval opening for the picture or photo is 6" long and 4" across. The opening also wrapped with tidal sweetgrass. You would gently bend your picture/photo a tiny bit and slide it through the front opening.  .....  OR you could leave it with no image and enjoy the birch bark backing - I think it is lovely as is.  I will add a picture frame wire hanger onto the back which you can remove and add your own hanger/hanging mechanism.  In the photo of the back of the frame you will see there is no hanger added..... yet....
Paul St. John lives in Maine near his mother's family.   His mother is Passamaquoddy, Maliseet and MicMac.  He grew up on the Mohawk lands in New York, his father's homeland.  Paul St John is an enrolled Mohawk tribal member.  Last photo is of Paul with 2 of his other works...