Cousin Dave Silversmith-18th Century Trade Silver

Cousin Dave Silversmith-18th Century Trade Silver Dedicated to the preservation of historical Trade Silver and it's use in modern reenacting. I have been accused of thinking outside of the box.

The love-of-my-life,Susan Minor and I have a mostly traveling business,as we go to different historical camps throughout the spring,summer and fall in a 6 state area of the upper mid-west,that includes,Minnesota,Iowa,Wisconsin,Illinois,Indiana and Michigan. In the off camping season (winter) we travel and sell at indoor trade shows in Wisconsin,Minnesota and Michigan before the camping season begi

ns again. We have a trade tent in the summer months where we sell historical items that we make with loving and trained hands. As part of our living at some of the events, we also are paid,teaching demonstrators that teach children about history in our specialized fields in a living history setting. I even make some items that are not historical or are historic but not from the fur trade. To me that is a kind thing to say and not an insult. This is how I eat and pay my bills,just as they did 250 years ago, so I am obliged to do custom orders that don't always fill the "historic" catagory.

These are twined, jute bags by Sue. The red bag on the right measures 7" tall by 4 1/2". The two bags on the left (green...
07/27/2026

These are twined, jute bags by Sue. The red bag on the right measures 7" tall by 4 1/2". The two bags on the left (green and purple) measure 1/4" wider..so 7" tall by 4 3/4" wide. They each have a strap approx. 44" long. They are perfect for a cell phone and/or wallet and glasses. They are 70.00+9.00 postage by check or M.O. If using paypal, there is a 3.00 added paypal fee on each.

As long as I am doing horse posts, here is another one. I love horses and it appears, so do you guys. This form is a Cel...
07/25/2026

As long as I am doing horse posts, here is another one. I love horses and it appears, so do you guys. This form is a Celtic Knot, horse head. They are in German silver and measure about 2 1/4" tall by 1 3/4" wide. The one on the left has 2 push pins with backs to use for secure pinning. The one on the right has a pendant ring attached at the top to hang on a chain or strand of beads or attached to nearly anything. They are 45.00 each +9.00 postage. Checks and money orders are fine. Credit cards and paypal charge a small fee that is added. Did you know that our word "pony", comes from the Celtic Horse Goddess, "Eponia". Now you know!

The last post on the horse pins was well received. Here is a round brooch that features a pictograph style cut-out in th...
07/24/2026

The last post on the horse pins was well received. Here is a round brooch that features a pictograph style cut-out in the center as an early running horse. I did them as a matched set but they can be purchased as singles if you want. They sell for $45.00 each and 9.00 postage for one or both. If using paypal or a credit card, there is a small fee for that service. They are 2" round, German silver and have a bar pin on the back for pinning. Let me know if you would like one...

Here are a few pins for those that love horses! I am building my inventory back from a very busy year. I was out of thes...
07/19/2026

Here are a few pins for those that love horses! I am building my inventory back from a very busy year. I was out of these fine ponies as they were very popular. They are 2 1/2" wide from nose to tail and 2 " tall from hoof to ear and each one has a bar pin on the back for pinning. They sell for 50.00 each+ 9.00 postage. There is a small extra charge for credit card or paypal. They can be used as a passive horse or as the top horse, in a rearing position. The top horse is in German silver. The bottom left is done in silver plated and the bottom right is in a special type of bronze that I can not get anymore. It seems to have a more gold tone. Let me know if you want one.or more.

Recently I discovered that from the hundreds of brooches in my cases, I was nearly out of Kissing Otters. I remedied tha...
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.

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 sh...
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.

Here are two brooches, just off the bench. They are 4" Dia. in German silver. They are a matched set and can be purchas...
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.

Now for the real beauties.... These sashes are both 10 feet long and 5 inches wide, with added 16 inches of fringe. They...
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.

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...
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.

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 a...
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.

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762 Monroe St
Galesburg, IL
61401

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