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Article: Trade silver North America's jewelry heritage.
- Article from:
- Jewelers Circular Keystone
- Article date:
- July 1, 2002
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. (US). This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Antique silver has always been popular, inspiring devotion from its collectors as they seek out the history of each piece. Yet trade silver, a variety of historical silver unique to the United States and Canada, is frequently overlooked. Here's a short history.
In the 1500s, European traders began arriving on the shores of North America, spurred by European fashion demands for fur pelts. Fur was highly prized in Europe and used in many clothing fashions, and pelts such as those of the black beaver--used in the manufacture of top hats--were particularly desirable.
As the Europeans established themselves in the New World, they became acquainted with the ...