Large CROW of quill, birchbark & old trade bead necklace, Paul St John, Mohawk

Description

A large crow proudly stands on this birch bark medallion/bead chain necklace by Paul St John, Mohawk artist.  Paul's  Maliseet name means "crow" (His father was Mohawk, his mother; Maliseet, Passamaquoddy & MicMac). His affinity for crows ca
n clearly be seen here in his rendering of this porcupine quill crow
The crow is of dyed black porcupine quills and is on a  birchbark medallion with an inner border of natural white quills with darker ends left on.  Around the medallion's exterior is an border of tidal sweetgrass.
This is traditional quill on birch bark work innovatively made into a necklace. The beaded
neck chain
has 2 strands of red and black glass seed beads with accents of white glass seed beads.  5 vintage
rare
small chevron trade beads of white, blue and red are added as accents on the beaded neck chain - these are at center back of chain, about midway down on either side of chain and at the attachment points of chain to medallion
Large necklace medallion is 4.25" in diameter. The beaded chain is 12" long from center back to top of medallion.   Last photo is of Paul with 2 of his other creations
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 and is an enrolled Mohawk tribal member.
There are other necklaces of this type by Paul - and some of another type that uses only porcupine quills and beading. Some of those necklaces have matching beaded/quilled barrettes.  Paul also makes quill and coiled tidal sweetgrass baskets.  These have an quilled animal, bird or Native American design on the top of the lid - find many different styles to choose from in this ebay store as well as dolls, medicine bags, moccasins, knives and more by Paul St John.