Long time NMLRA and CLA member Joseph Valentin. Joe has crafted a fine trade silver brooch for his offering. One copied from an original documented in the Frank T. Siebert collection. Joe notes that when pieces such as he has copied here were originally made, trade silver was playing just as big a part in the fur trade as powder and lead. This piece dates to the late 18th or early 19th century and is in the style of the more famous trade silver work being done in Montreal, which is often considered to be the birthplace of such silver work, and is the home of such legendary silver smiths as Robert Cruickshank, one of the most recognized makers of the era. Joe’s work is always hand sawn from pure sterling silver, and based on original documented period examples, and he has made his trade silver this way since 1967. Concerned, and rightfully so that it might be easy to confuse his contemporary work with a true antique, Joe carefully hand stamps each item that he makes with his own special touch-mark on the reverse side.
The CLA Live Auction will be on Friday, August 20th at 4:00 PM.
Copy by T.C. Albert with photo by Bob Webb.
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