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DUG UPPER GREAT LAKES FUR TRADE BROOCH

Trade silver was first introduced to the Upper Great Lakes trade by the traders out of Montreal about 1760. The circular or "ring" brooches such as this one were attached to a garment by pushing the fabric up through the centre and piercing it with the pin. I have included a scan from "The Covenant Chain, INDIAN CERIMONIAL AND TRADE SILVER" of a silk head scarf that is part of the collection of the Canadian Museum Of Man in Ottawa Ontario that has several of these pins attached.

I dug this artifact years ago at Point aux Pins, near the entrance to Lake Superior on the St. Mary's River about 4 miles above the rapids at the historic twin cities of Sault Ste. marie Michigan and Ontario. You will find written records of the Sault and Point aux Pins in the Jesuit Relations and in the journals of every early trader or traveler that went up into Lake Superior.

The St. Mary's River valley including Sault Ste. Marie and Point Aux Pins, was the home of the Ojibwa at the time of first contact with the European traders. From an unknown source: "Imagine, an autumn day in 1623, Wendat travellers in corn-laden birchbark canoes gliding up the St. Marys River . With them are their Odawa ( Ottawa ) companions and two Frenchmen, Etienne Brûlé and Grenole. Tomorrow these traders from Georgian Bay will reach their destination, the rapids of Sault Ste. Marie w they will trade corn for the dried fish, meat and furs of the Ojibwa (Chippewa). The excited French explorers will be the first Europeans to reach the edge of the storied western sea, Lake Superior ; for all it would be a special place."

The Sault first showed up on Champlain's 1632 map of New France as Sault du Gaston, named by Etienne Brule in honor of the brother of the French King. Father Marquette founded the first permanent Jesuit mission in the region at the Sault in 1689. It was later relocated to the Staits of Mackinaw at St. Ignace due to an out break of trouble with the Iroquois.

Lois Denis Sieur de la Ronde established a ship yard at Pointe aux Pins and built the first decked vessel to sail on Lake Superior from in 1735.

Artifacts from prehistoric times and from all periods of the Fur Trade have been found (see Conway, Thor A., "Heartland of the Ojibway" and "Point aux Pins Archaeology", Archaeological Research Report 13, Historic Planning and Research Branch, Ontario Ministry of Culture and Recreation, Toronto, 1980).

This brooch is about 1 inch across complete with no cracks. It is in exceptional dug condition as found with good patina.It is rare to dig these delicate artifacts in this condition.

I have a low starting price with no reserve.

As with all my personal found relics, this brooch is guaranteed to be authentic and as described.

Good Luck

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