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Cultural Context

trade; personal ornamentation; political alliance

History Of Use

Initially, the main sources of silver were British, French, and Spanish coins. Most ornaments were produced by silversmiths of European origin in North America and Europe, and were actively traded only from 1760 to 1821. By the mid-18th century silver objects were produced in New England, Quebec and Montreal. Silver was used by First Nations people as a sign of rank. Silver ornaments in these styles continue to be produced by Native silversmiths in Central Canada and the USA. Animal imagery is a significant part of Woodlands First Nations tradition, but no documented instance has been found of the use of animal effigies in trade. The place of effigies in Woodlands culture is not known.

Description

A necklace of beads with seven beavers on each side of a cross. The cross hangs in the centre bottom, and is hung on a metal wire. The white and red beads alternate five white to one red on the upper two-thirds. On the remaining one-third it is three white beads to one red bead, with seven beavers next to the red bead on each side of an engraved gold Lorraine Cross. Each beaver is stamped with a maker's mark.