Trade Silver An Introduction

Since its introduction, trade silver has become an integral part of woodland Native material culture. To date, trade silver has had over 300 years of consistent use. Shapes and design elements have changed in many ways in the last 200 years therefore we maintain our focus on the period of 1690-1790.

Over the years there has been much debate about the origins of trade silver, whether it is regarding the inception of trade silver use, the context of introduction, or Native/ European use of silver brooches. Archaeological and textual evidence supports that trade silver in North America was in its infancy in the mid-17th century, yet further research has shown that the simple designs utilized in trade silver as we know it today has its roots in an early Roman context. Examples of this are found in ring brooches, both decorated and plain, which have been recovered in England and France that date from 75 AD into the 13th century when small ring brooches were in fashion. It is obvious that the introduction of trade silver was necessitated from Native interest in pre-existing European jewelry items. What we do know is that the predominant use of trade silver in North America was in fact limited to Native peoples. This is a reflection of the trade network established by European colonial governments and private individuals in an attempt to exploit the vast supply of furs to export back to Europe and to gain a strategic advantage of Native military alliances and support. There is evidence that trade silver styles were worn by Sailors in the 17th century and there may have been some colonial European use in the 18th century but this is purely speculative until further evidence can be attained.

Another common topic of controversy is that pierced brooches are a late 18th century invention. It was previously thought that the earliest known pierced silver brooch was discovered in the Fletcher site 1745-1765, however through further research, a pierced silver brooch was discovered in Rochester, New York from the Snyder McClure site c.1690. This brooch has many of the characteristics of later pierced brooches yet also has the earliest know historic provenance to date.

We continue to research and catalog other museum and private collections in order to further establish the use of trade silver in the 17th century and to document and recreate new styles appropriate to the 18th century.

Our commitment is to provide the Historic interpretive community with period appropriate silver goods of proper construction, form, and material. It is not our goal to simply sell an item, but to serve the individual interpreter and maintain a consistent level of quality, integrity and historical accuracy.

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Trade Silver
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At The Eastern Door 2007