Turtle shell (plastron) flap on Small Bag of elk leather: Paul St John, Mohawk

Description

The flap of this bag is the plastron (bottom of shell) of a "stinkpot" or common musk turtle.  The bag and it's ties are made of elkhide and at the attachment points there are 4 vintage larger glass beads - opaque blue (milky blue).  Native Americans have long had a variety of uses for turtle shells from jewelry, drums, rattles, various types of bags and more.
Paul's home is across the road from a pond where turtles live - raccoons and cars leave turtle carcasses in the road and near the pond.  Paul gathers the shells and uses them in a variety of ways.  - Additionally Paul's friends, family and some of his customers give him turtle shells they find.
It is 3.25" long and 3.25" across at the top of the flap.  The flap is 2.5" long.  The ties are 13" long - and are left untied for you to decide how long you would like the "handle" or - if you want to tie this onto a belt, a backpack, a shoulder bag etc.
Paul St. John now lives in Maine, near his mother's Passamaquoddy, Maliseet and Micmac relatives.  He is an enrolled Mohawk and grew up on the Mohawk lands in New York, his father's tribe.   2nd from last photo in slideshow is of Paul St John and 2 of his other works.  Last photo is of his Mohawk grandmother, Amelia St John who taught him beading.
Paul St John also makes birchbark, porcupine quill and coiled sweetgrass baskets, beaded knife cases, traditional dolls, water drums, birch bark rattles, beaded barrettes and moccasins among numerous other traditional crafts - check out more of his work in this ebay store.