This beaded necklace has the 4 Directions symbol on a large beaded medallion with 2 beaded eagle feathers overlaying it.  This has been created by Paul St John, Mohawk craftsman.  

The 4 Directions symbol is 4.25" in diameter, the feathers are about 3.5" long and extend 1" beyond the bottom of the 4 directions circle - so medallion is 5.25" long there.  The beaded neck chain is 12" long from center back to attachment to medallion.   

The 4 directions symbol of the Iroquois and of the Wabanaki confederacies is a circle made of a red, a white, a black and a yellow quarter.  -  These colors represent the 4 colors of man, the 4 seasons, the 4 directions, the 4 elements of the earth  - it is a significant sacred symbol.  

The medallion is on a double strand beaded neck chain of red, black, white and yellow beads.   At the 2 attachment points Paul has used very old tubular red beads, there are 2 similar vintage yellow beads on either side of the neck chain between the white and red beads of the neck chain.  There is 2 similar vintage white bead at center back of  the neck bead chain.   All of the beads here are from boxes of beads which were sent to Paul by his aunt (now in her 90's) - some of the boxes  belonged to Paul's Mohawk grandmother and others were his great-grandmother's.  Paul learned beadwork from his grandmother, Amelia St John.

This is beaded on a soft deer hide backing that is a light tan color.  1st  Four Directions symbol w/eagle feathers I have offered by Paul.  

Paul has also made bear, bears' head, eagle head, eagle, crow's head, hummingbird, wolf's head, beaver, plain turtles, turtles with 4 direction symbols on their shells,  loon and great blue heron beaded medallion necklaces.  -  Also flower medallion necklaces... As I list this I believe there is a bear's head, an eagle's head, a crow's head and flower necklaces available.  If these have sold or if you are interested in any of the designs I mentioned that are not in stock -   I get more items from Paul about every 2 weeks and I never know what he has been working on until I get them......  SO check back often

Paul St. John now lives in Maine, his mother was Passamaquoddy/MicMac/Maliseet. Paul is a registered Mohawk who grew up on the Mohawk lands in New York, his father's homeland. He has been doing beadwork, baskets, birchbark work, dolls, quill and leather work for over 40 years.  He does so many types of crafts and does them all well!   Last photo is of Paul.

While porcupine quill and beadwork are historically Maine Indian traditional crafts, not many Maine Indian craftspeople currently working use both quill and beads.