Product Details

These Sterling Silver Ball & Cone Earrings are probably the most popular fur trade item that ever existed. Often referred to as "earbobs" in the 1680s Earliest recorded, literally thousands of this style trade silver earrings were traded. The Eastern Woodlands Style Trade Silver ornamentation was traded to the North American Indians by the European Fur Traders from approximately the 1680s to the late 1840s. These original pieces were made of copper, brass, pewter, German Silver, and Silver.
Many pieces started out as large silver coins and were pounded into very thin sheets. They were then cut to size with a jeweler's fret saw that was used 400 years ago, then they are polished and engraved.

From Delaware to the Northwest Coast, beginning as early as the mid-1700s. When Lewis & Clark reached the Mandan and Hidatsa Villages in 1804, French and English Canadian Resident Traders had been living among the Earth Lodge People for more than two decades. Among the multitude of goods furnished by the Canadian Traders, were highly prized Silver items.

By the late 18th Century, Silversmiths in Montreal, and Quebec City, were employing apprentices and helpers to meet the ever-growing demand of the Northwest Company and their Hudson Bay Co. rivals. Among the many items produced were Pendants, Armbands, decorative Brooches of many designs and sizes, Gorgets, Nose Rings, Ear Wheels, thousands of plain round brooches of various sizes, and ball and cone earrings known as Earbobs.In 1804, Capt. Lewis sent a Delegation of Osage Indians to meet the Great White Father in Washington

Among the delegation was the Chief of the Little Osage Cachasunghia. In 1806-1807, Mandan Chief Shehek-shote-accompanied L&C from the Mandan Village back to St. Louis, and on to Washington. While visiting in the East, both Chiefs had their portrait made by French Artist, Charles B. J. F. de Saint-Memin. The portraits now housed in the National Portrait Gallery, document that both Chiefs had a preference for Earbobs.
While most were made from Sterling Silver, they are also found in German silver and brass and in several different variations.


Ours are a Sterling Silver Ball & Cone Earrings
Ours features a 7mm ball with an open bottom 1" cone and a round wire. They are historically accurate and well made.

Earwires are 18 gauge wire.