Originally listed at $300

Northwestern Europe, Scotland, ca. mid-18th century CE; Southwestern United States, Navajo, ca. late 19th to early 20th century CE. A pair of jewelry ornaments that include a Scottish nickel silver Luckenbooth brooch traded with the eastern Iroquois tribes and a sterling silver Navajo made pendant. The trade brooch is a nickel-silver with a light silver wash and in the traditional Luckenbooth heart shape to symbolize betrothal - these brooches were given by men to sweethearts. By the mid-18th century, a crown was often surmounted on the top of the heart. This brooch likely traveled to the American colonies as an item to use in trade to gain favor with the Iroquois tribe. The Navajo piece is a 94.3% sterling silver pendant with a hoop stamped with a linear pattern, along the edge are 3 chain links and flat discs engraved with lines symbolizing the four cardinal directions. Size (Navajo pendant): 2.5" L x 1.5" W (6.4 cm x 3.8 cm); (Luckenbooth brooch): 1.75" L x 1.25" W (4.4 cm x 3.2 cm); (case): 5.5" L x 4.5" W (14 cm x 11.4 cm); silver quality: 94.3%; weight: 2.3 grams

After pewter, iron, and brass became common amongst the Iroquois and somewhat lost their wonder, silver became the new accepted trade item between Europeans and Tribes. The French and English were so driven to establish prosperous fur trade with the Iroquois, that they were willing to trade with silver - indeed, some accounts describe that the eastern tribes wore all their metal trinkets on their clothing at once, which gave the appearance of armor.

Provenance: private Glorieta, New Mexico, USA collection; ex-Lucas Kappler collection, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

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#161861

Both are displayed in modern Riker cases. Cleanable patina and dark toning on both. Prong pin articulates on the brooch. Navajo pendant has a maker mark for unknown artist and could be made wearable with a cord or chain.