Large 7 1/2 " Fur Trade Brass Cross Marked JK (John Kinzie) & Montreal
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:63834 |
This one is a large 7 1/2" brass Fur Trade Cross. It has JK in script within a square cartouche on the top along with Montreal. The JK script is the mark of John Kinzie (1763-1828) who worked from 1784 to 1812 Quebec, Detroit, Ft. Wayne, Ft Defiance, Detroit, and Chicago. He was known as "Shawneeawkee" or Silver Man. It is a infrequently seen touch mark. This is a nice Montreal style cross in brass with 3 crescent moons, 2 rocker engraved snakes, and ...HB in the center. It nicely designed and executed with appropriate edge and suspension hole wear.
Large quantities of these crosses were made in the 18th and early 19th century for trade to the natives in the Great Lakes and Upper Mississippi and Missouri River valleys during the Fur Trade era. They were made in a number of places, including Albany, Philadelphia, Detroit, St Louis, Montreal, and Quebec, as well as London. Many are stamped with Montreal or Quebec, regardless of their origin, as that was prefered by the tribes.
This cross has some patina but has been polished in the past, notice the deep patina of age in the hollows on the back of the crescent moons. It shows wear appropriate to having been worn. That said, I cannot guarantee that this was made during the fur trade era. Please review the photos carefully, as they are the basis for you to form an opinion and bid. We have retired and are passing on some of the collections to new caretakers.
I have listed a number of other interesting items; take a look.
Thanks
Large quantities of these crosses were made in the 18th and early 19th century for trade to the natives in the Great Lakes and Upper Mississippi and Missouri River valleys during the Fur Trade era. They were made in a number of places, including Albany, Philadelphia, Detroit, St Louis, Montreal, and Quebec, as well as London. Many are stamped with Montreal or Quebec, regardless of their origin, as that was prefered by the tribes.
This cross has some patina but has been polished in the past, notice the deep patina of age in the hollows on the back of the crescent moons. It shows wear appropriate to having been worn. That said, I cannot guarantee that this was made during the fur trade era. Please review the photos carefully, as they are the basis for you to form an opinion and bid. We have retired and are passing on some of the collections to new caretakers.
I have listed a number of other interesting items; take a look.
Thanks
