Pipe and Stem by Christian Hayes and James Blake

This Pipe and stem was a collaboration between James Blake and Christian Hays. The black Steatite pipe Bowl was made by Christian and is copied from a original Creek bowl dating to the 18th Century. The stem was fashioned by James. It is not based from one single stem but using and incorporating design elements from several originals and some observations made ruminating on a number of original paintings such as " The Trustees of Georgia at the Palace Court" (William Verelst 1734). The stem was carved from Sumac. Attached to the stem are three handmade Imitation! Ivory Billed Woodpecker beaks and scalps (female), they are attached with a binding of real deer sinew. The Cloth binding is Red stroud cloth also made by James and family. The handpainted fluffs is Replication! eagle down, and the Eagle feather fan set is handmade and handpainted by James. *Note* THESE ARE LEGAL HANDPAINTED REPLICATION FEATHERS!

Copy and photos supplied by James Blake.

James Blake Quilled Knife Sheath

Photos supplied by James Blake.

Quilled Knife Sheath and Knife Handle by James Blake

documented to be Mohawk late 18th century its very unique due to the fact of the one slat wrapping

Photo by David Wright.

Crooked Knife by James Blake

This crooked knife is carved from burl with geometric etchings and crosshatched designs carved into the wood, It was given a coat of bear grease and alot of hand rubbing to bring out the beauty of the wood. The Blade was forged by Joseph Privott. There seems to be two types of distinct blade profile shapes a curved blade and the other a canoe knife shape each had its own function and desired use. The Algonquian people called it the "Mocotaugan" while there French Canadian neighbors called it "le couteau croche". Its function is the same as a drawknife its advantage is it can be used with one hand as you hold the object being carved with the other.

Copy and photos supplied by James Blake at White Savage Trading.

Quilled Knife Sheath by James Blake and Shawn Webster with Knife by Rich Worthington

This is an accurate documentary copy of an 18^th century quilled Lenape neck sheath and knife. The original, from which this work was based, is housed in the National Museum of the American Indian (Washington DC) and is on public display until 2011.

It was collected in the 1760s by W.H. Oldman in New Jersey then later wound up in the George Heye collection. It now resides in the National Museum of the American Indian.

The various techniques of quillwork - including loom quilling and a stunning quill wrapped handle on the knife was completed by collaborative efforts of noted quillworkers, Shawn Webster and James Blake. The accurate reproduction of the knife was made by Rich Worthington.

To faithfully copy the original piece, which contains a rare example of human hair, Mariah Blake (a recognized artist in her own right) donated her hair for the project.

In keeping with using only original materials for the projects, natural dyes - Cochineal, Turmeric and Fustic were used.

The sheath and knife will be on display at Shawn Webster’s table at the 2010 Annual CLA show in Lexington, KY.

bottom two pictures are the original pieces

Photos and copy supplied by James Blake.

James Blake Matchcoat

This past winter I was contacted by Maine State Museum to help with a project a monumental work was in progress. I was contacted and to my surprise some knowledgeable folks there at the museum had heard about me and my work with other Museums and Historic sites and my Endeavors concerning stroud cloth. They worked in partnership with New Bruinswick Museum in Saint John which houses a original 18th century Malecite Chieftains clothing set. The goal was to reproduce this set of clothing as close to the original as could be had. This set of clothing was made for the "Uncommon Threads Exhibit" which will be traveling the Northeast and Canada thur 2011. The clothing was of the highest standard fit for a important chief with plenty of silk ribbon applique and beadwork of various styles. I was honored to work with them in reproducing these documentary pieces of clothing.

Joseph Brant by George Romney painted 1776 displaying a stroud cloth Matchcoat.


Copy and photos supplied by James Blake.

Finger Woven and Quilled Pouch by Shawn Webster and James Blake - Made and Donated for the 2010 CLA Live Auction

This magnificent pouch is the collaborative efforts of two of the Longrifle Culture’s talented premier artists, Shawn Webster and James Blake. They have teamed up to produce an outstanding work for the 2010 CLA Fund Raising Auction to be held next month.

Back of the Bag

Based on an original in the collections of the Museum of Civilization (Ottawa, Canada), it is collective work showcasing the two artists’ various talents -- Blake’s finger weaving and Webster’s quill work. Though both are multi-talented artists, this pouch exhibits two of their strongest art forms.

BLAKE’S WEAVING: Woven with a tight two ply yarn (in the white) it was then dyed with a mix of madder root and Bloodroot, collected on James’ family's land in West Virginia. The beads were woven in on a separate linen thread as the weaving progressed, although James suggests there were multiple ways of applying the beads as original ethnographic examples show, such as the Amherst garters in the Chicago Field Museum. The beads are sewn in using the very same wool the piece was woven with. James finished the body and strap for the bag and off to Shawn Webster it went.

WEBSTER’S QUILLING: After receiving the finger woven material from James, Shawn put it all together. He first lined the piece with dyed linen material. The quillwork was copied from the original museum piece on which the contemporary pouch is based. All the quills were dyed using natural dyes then each one was sewn to the leather using 100% linen thread. The panels are both completely edged with quillwork as well. At the bottom are hand rolled tin cones filled with red dyed deer hair and each cone is quill wrapped.

This is a wonderful work of art by two experienced, talented artists and will make a great addition to anyone’s collection. Come to the CLA auction on August 20, 4 pm and put in your bid. For more information, visit: http://www.longrifle.com/.

The CLA Live Auction will be on Friday, August 20th at 4:00 PM.

Copy and photos supplied by David Wright.

James Blake Headress

This piece is formally from the Thaw Collection. It was constructed using period techniques and materials, including Hide Glue & and natural pigments for the painted background.

Copy and photos supplied by James Blake.

Beaded and Quilled Ornaments by James Blake and Chris Hayes

These Beaded and Quilled Ornaments are based from a set of originals From Russia / Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography  (Kunstkamera) These items were featured in the Clash Of Empires exhibit, Thanks To Dr. Robert Scott Stephenson and his efforts. What I find fascinating about these items is the finishing weave and fringe treatment. What could items like this have been used for? or made for? could it have been for diplomatic councils of Peace and War or simply a Trade Curiosity. Making pieces like these one wonders if they could talk what stories would they tell.      

Copy and photos supplied by James Blake.