Burl Noggin by Christian Hays

This Noggin features a carved Human Face, and Rum Barrel attached with a Toggle String made from Basswood Bark.

Copy and photo supplied by James Blake.

Beaded Garters by James Blake and Christian Hayes

Chris did the bead work and the quill and cone work were done by James.

Photographed at the 2011 Lake Cumberland Mini CLA Show by Jan Riser.

Christian Hayes Bowl and Spoon with James Blake Ladle

Photo supplied by James Blake.

Pewter Lined Cherry Burl Pipe by Christian Hayes

 This personal pipe was made by Christian G. Hayes. It's made from cherry burl and has been hand rubbed and aged to bring out the beauty in the wood.  It is inspired from a number of original pipes. American Indians often made pipes from various wood burls many with lead and pewter inlays. The stem is made from Arrow Wood Viburnum, a bush that produces long shoots, and is often used for arrows and pipe stems.

Copy by James Blake and photographed at the 2011 Lake Cumberland Mini CLA Show by Jan Riser.

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.

Christian Hayes Pipes

A variety of pipes made by Christian Hays from different mediums Including Catlinite, Black Soaptone and a Cherry Burl.

Photos supplied by James Blake.

Mirror by Christian Hays

Christian used the information from the informative article Necessary Items... Mirrors, from Alan Gutchess's Native American Portrayals Magazine. This example was found in Michigan, its unknown if this was a commercially traded or of Native manufacture. This is another good example of past research put to application.

Copy and photo supplied by James Blake.

James Blake and Christian Hayes Pipe with Fan Set

The Catlinite pipe was made by my father in-law Christian Hays, I completed the stem and the 6 feather fan set. The stem and pipe measure 33" total.

Copy and photo by James Blake.

Stroud Cloth by James Blake and Christian Hays

Stroud cloth was a European textile with some significance in the North American Indian trade. Stroud cloth is a textile surrounded with uncertainties, It perhaps gets its name from Stroudwater England a area near Gloucerstershire England known for its superior red wool highly traded and used for British Army Regimental Coats. This woolen cloth seems to have had more then one name it has been refered to as Stroud Cloth, Saved List Cloth, Corded Cloth, and White Selvage Cloth. James Blake and Christian Hays have painstakingly researched the history of this fabric and different variants including handling several different original pieces of the cloth to come up with this version of the cloth. J.B.

Photo supplied by James Blake.