LRG Cedar Carved Eagle Feather w/PYROGRAPHY THUNDERBIRD: Mi'kmaq COLLABORATION

Description

A Wabanaki style Thunderbird is depicted in a
round medallion on the bottom of this beautiful cedar feather.  Jason Tomah, Mi'kmaq hand carved this large cedar eagle feather and J Clifton Polchies, Mi'kmaq added the "burntwork" or pyrography to it.  The darker areas, the dark top with the previously described medallion and burntwork Thunderbird, dark " barbs" along the quill shaft at feather center as well as the 6 dark lines that encircle the feather quill - all burntwork.  This collaborative piece is outstanding - both these Mi'kmaq artists do lovely work - but when you have Jason's hand carved feather with Clifton's burnt work you get something unique and quite special.  (I have a few more feathers by Jason that have been "decorated" by Clifton that I will be listing soon - each quite unique and beautiful! - this is 3rd one I have listed, first one sold already!)  ----  This feather features more carving by Jason as he carves areas along both sides of the feather showing parted "barbs" on the exterior --- feathers often have spaces such as these and birds use their beaks to smooth (preen)  these "holes" back together ... the barbs will adhere together when birds preen themselves.
A large size hand carved cedar eagle feather by Jason Tomah, Mi'kmaq (one Canadian spelling of MicMac -US spelling... Mikmaw is another Canadian spelling - All same tribe) and hand decorated with burntwork by
J Clifton Polchies, Mi'kmaq .  This feather is 15.5" long and 2.75" wide at widest.   (some of these larger feathers are 18" or a bit longer... most are 2.25" or 2.5" wide ... So this one is somewhat shorter than the longest ones, and somewhat wider than the longer ones.    ----  The medallion here is 2.5" in diameter
There was more cooperation involved in this piece -  the wood came from our land.  My husband cut the tree, and then cut logs from it.  Our friend Hubert Francis, Mikmaw picked the logs/wood up here and took it to Jason Tomah to carve into feathers.  Hubert then went back to Jason's and picked up the carved feathers, took them to Clifton to "decorate" ... picked them up when done and - brought them to me when he last visited here.  It required a lot of cooperation/collaboration - and I feel the result was well worth all our efforts!
A Mikmaw friend suggests you may want to use one of these for smudging, as non-Native Americans are not allowed to possess real eagle feathers.  This friend performs traditional ceremonies and sometimes gives one of Jason Tomah's cedar feathers to non-Native participants.  (if you aren't familiar with smudging - "ask seller a question" and I will respond with explanation.)  -  Some Natives do use cedar feathers for smudging as cedar is a sacred medicine plant/tree.
Could use this as a hanging artwork.  Tightly wrap and tie around the quill end of the carved feather (use leather, yarn, ribbon, - whatever you think looks right)  ...  Jason hangs some of these from the quill end and attaches horse mane/tail hairs - dyed red is traditional, or left natural.  He glues these to the bottom of the back.  You could also add a real feather/feathers, a tin cone w/dyed deer hair, a string of antique beads, or a string of small shells... ....  Makes a nice hanging with or without additions.  If you are using it for smudging, you might not want to add anything to it or think carefully about placement as some things added to bottom might catch fire while you are smudging.