(ca. 1750-1800) Indian Trade Silver. Circular brooch with decorative cuts and engraving. Silver. 24.6 mm. 13.7 grains. With original central pin and retaining a strand of twisted animal (horse?) hair. A portion of the fibrous string remains connected to the brooch, but most of the length is now detached. Unmarked, maker unknown.<p>Nearly identical in form to Beauchamp (<em>Metallic Ornaments of the New York Indians</em>) 29, but smaller and showing more decorative rocker engraving. Beauchamp describes his 29 as "Medium circular brooch from the same [i.e. Onondaga Reservation]." This is also quite similar to Beauchamp 57, described as "unique circular brooch from Onondaga Reservation," and Beauchamp 63 ("fine but small embossed circular brooch from Onondaga Reservation"). The first two show the most similarity in the shape of the decorative cutouts, but Beauchamp 63 also displays the raised round embossing around the edge. Beauchamp 63, depicted as 28 mm, is also most similar in size.<p>The edge shows 12 of those embossed circular punches, spaced between arcs, each with a hemispherical (or "demi-lune") cutout. The center shows one large circular cutout, flanked by four triangles and four lozenges. The entire surface has been carefully decorated with zig-zag rocker engraving, in attractive and delicate style.<p>Circular brooches of this form range in size from this module or a bit smaller to upwards of three inches in diameter. Rarely are they so decorative and well accomplished; most are quite simple. The standard ring brooch (a basic circle with a pin fastener) was the most common form, traded by the bushel and often displayed among hundreds of others on a shirt or cloak, enough to cover the garment and make a notable jingling sound as the wearer walked. While large brooches are often nicely detailed, ones of this size are rarely this fine.<p>Harrold Gillinghams classic 1936 <em>Indian Ornaments Made by Philadelphia Silversmiths</em> reproduces a 1760 invoice from Joseph Richardson that lists small round brooches at 18 1/4 pence each - a little more than a two reales each.<p>The card accompanying this object reads "Part of an old fashioned silver brooch. Perhaps rest is to be found. From FWP and probably from Mrs. Ebenz. Putnam." The back of the card is dated 1931. This item is intact, however, and not a part of something larger.<p>A classic trade object of the northern frontier from the 18th century, likely made in New York, Philadelphia, Montreal, or (perhaps) London for trade with one of the Five Nations.
