Cousin Dave Silversmith-18th Century Trade Silver

05/24/2026

Recently I discovered that from the hundreds of brooches in my cases, I was nearly out of Kissing Otters. I remedied that by making many different sizes, metals and some are brooches and pendants. I now have tons of otters in stock.The Kissing Otter pendant is one of the most iconic of the fur trade. It symbolizes the unity of the ideal family. Woodland people loved otters because they were wonderful parents and they displayed love and playfulness with their kits and mate.The top middle, is a brooch that is 3" tall. It sells for 62.00. The small otters on the top left and right 35.00 each. They are approx. 2" tall. One is an antiqued brass pendant and the other is a brooch with a pin near the top. The bottom left is a German silver pendant, approx. 2 1/2" tall and is 45.00. On the bottom right is an antiqued copper pendant approx. 2 3/4" and is 50.00. I have other sizes that vary in price and style. Postage has unfortunately gone up again and is now 9.00 per package. If you want to do paypal or credit card, there is a 4% fee that they charge me. It is a great time to get one or more Kissing Otters while.they last.

05/19/2026

Here are a couple.of recent Crown/ Gustaweh I have made.Each is shown as is and also on a top hat. I made several but showing these today. They are approx. 22" long and 2 1/4" tall. They sell for 200.00 + 9.00 postage. If using PayPal, there is an 8.00 PP fee that I get charged. 300 years ago. Woodland men, primarily head men who governed and guided their villages or nations, had a head adornment, often called a gustaweh. It symbolized their station and power and with sacred powers aided them in their duties to their people. There were many personal and powerful items that were used in it's construction. When silver came on the scene, Woodland people had heard of the power that the Kings of Europe possessed. A symbolic crown, like those kings had, would sometimes be used as a token of power that the native man took for his own, because he was just as powerful as the king across the water. Then as time went on, and top hats became popular, it was common for woodland people to adopt European fashion, they were sometimes worn on a hat, like a crown to show that power. Eventually by the 1850s, the crowns on hats became an article of wear for women and still exists today in contemporary regalia. Let me know if you are interested in a crown/ gustaweh.

05/16/2026

Here are two brooches, just off the bench. They are 4" Dia. in German silver. They are a matched set and can be purchased for 200.00+9.00 postage or bought as singles for 100.00 each +9.00 postage. Some folks ask, why do you call it German silver? In Europe in the 1820s, there was a desire to find an inexpensive substitute for sterling silver, which is especially true for us in 2026 because of the very high prices for sterling silver. There was a competition to find a new metal composition. A German man won the competition by combining 3 metals to form a new combination that was very similar to sterling. It is 65% copper and 18% nickel and 17% zinc. You have malability in the copper similar to silver but with a copper color and the very hard silvery nickel over takes the copper color to give it more the look of sterling and the zinc gives more malability (softness) to the finished product. By the early 1830s, German silver or Nickel silver was being used in America for jewelry applications and primarily for the late fur trade.

05/02/2026

Now for the real beauties.... These sashes are both 10 feet long and 5 inches wide, with added 16 inches of fringe. They are both 600.00 each. Credit card or paypal are available with a normal 4% fee. The sash maker has NOT raised his prices in years. It is an opportunity to get a beautiful sash for much lower than many makers charge. Watch for other posts on straps and leg ties. It is hard to picture and show the sashes full length. If you want a pic. Let me know.. Now back to making silver. I will post more on my artwork coming up.

05/02/2026

Here are some really nice leg ties. They are 44inches long and 1 1/4"+ wide + fringe. They are 85.00 + 9.00 postage for a pair. Credit card or paypal are available with a normal fee added. Watch for my other posts on sashes and straps.

05/02/2026

Here is s a horn or bag strap that is 57" long and 1 1/4" wide. It sells for 75.00+9.00 postage. Credit card or paypal available with a normal fee added. Look for my other posts on these straps and sashes.

05/02/2026

A couple of weeks ago, while loading for a trip to Ft. Fred in Maryland, I had a bad fall & just found out I broke 3 ribs. I made the trip any way. Now I am home healing up slowly. Today I got a package from my good friend and SASH weaver. It was a glorious package. I will separate them with measurements and pictures so it is not confusing.I make nothing on these because I love to have them in my store as they add color and beauty to my inventory. Here is the first post with some bag or horn straps. The first picture shows 50 in. long and 1 3/4" wide + the fringe. These sell for $75.00 each + 9.00 postage. Credit card or paypal are available with a fee. GREEN STRAP IS SOLD..

04/10/2026

03/03/2026

I just made these earwheels while making another pair as a custom order. These are German Silver and done in the 18th century style. Many originals were variations of circle patterns, like these. There were different ways to engrave them. This is one way that was used that appears to be a wavy line and accenting, alternating dots. They are 2 1/8" Dia. and come with sterling silver earwires. They sell for 110.00+ 8.00 postage. Paypal or credit card, there is a small extra fee. Let me know if you would like to own these. I would like to thank all my followers and many new ones that join each day. For now, I am still able to attend large historic events, and with help, do all the strenuous work for set up and teardown. When the day comes that I can no longer do the work of a young man, I will still be able to post here and have an audience of great people that will allow me to still earn a living. I hope that day is still far off but it creeps closer with age. In 12 days, I will be in New Ulm ,MN for a trade show. I hope I get to see many of you there.

02/21/2026

I am set up at Echos of the Past, trade fair in Oshkosh, WI. I have been so busy, this the first chance I have had to post. So many good friends here and not enough time to see them all.

02/03/2026

Here are more hearts for Valentines Day. These are furtrade era pieces. These are in the 2 1/4" tall size. They are 50.00 each except for the center piece which.is am Irish style Cladduagh. It is 56.00 Postage is 8.00 for one or more pieces. Checks are fine. Credit cards and paypal are available with 4% added fee. Let know and I can give you a total price. These are only a few of the heat brooches available on many different sizes and prices. Hope to see you at Oshkosh coming up in mid Feb.