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The Northwest Gun | Textiles | Beads
Trading Silver | And More

TRADE SILVER

American silver gorget, about 1810.

Silver made for trade to Indians was a remarkable fad. There is scarcely a single mention of it in fur trader’s records before about 1750. Within ten years it was an essential part of any well-dressed warrior’s outfit.
By the 1790s any Indian who was prominent amassed a small fortune in wearable art: crowns, armbands, wristbands, ear wheels, nose decorations, circular “moon” gorgets, and rows of pierced and plain brooches sewn to one’s clothing.Sales of silver steadily declined after 1820, but continued into the 1850s.

The extraordinarily large cross (12 ¼” long) was probably made at the height of trade silver’s popularity. Made in Detroit by Paul Malcher about 1790-1800.


Oglala Sioux Chief Young Man Afraid of His Horses, wearing a nickel silver cross.

The Northwest Gun | Textiles | Beads | Trade Silver | And More!

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