Comments on: Trade Silver Crosses

By: Gene and Jenny Glover

Gene and Jenny Glover — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 18:47:43 +0000

We have a Hudson Bay Lorraine trade cross, w/ Robert Cruikshank’s touch mark, on a 27″ strand of “skunk” or “eye” trade beads. Would like to learn more about it. Any information would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

By: Martin

Martin — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 03:41:12 +0000

ED –

I think your best bet to research your mark is to first scan through all the past auction records for Trade Silver you can find, and second to look into the excellent reference material suggested by Colleen at Barking Rock Farms.

Good Luck

Martin

By: Ed Holden

Ed Holden — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 22:56:03 +0000

Hi,

Are you familiar with the Fur Trade Silver Maker who Signed his work with “WS”?

Thanks,

By: Martin

Martin — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 16:12:28 +0000

Colleen,

Thanks for letting us know about these resources…

All The Best To You

Martin

By: Colleen at Barking Rock Farm

Colleen at Barking Rock Farm — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 03:44:04 +0000

Actually, there are several very good publications about trade silver. The first, which I highly recommend, is “Silver in the Fur Trade” by Martha Wilson Hamilton. This book is probably still in print, and readily available.

Other books on the topic, which may (or may not) be in print, but are still worth searching for are:
“North American Indian Trade Silver” by W.H. Carter
“Iroquois Silver Brooches in the Rochester Museum” by Elizabeth H. Van Horn
“The Covenant Chain – Indian Ceremonial & Trade Silver” published by National Museums of Canada

There are undoubtedly more of which I am unaware. A good source of info about this fascinating subject is available through various Native American Museums, such as the Seneca National Iroquois National Museum in Salamanca, NY.