Fur Trade Brooch?

[romeo-1]

Ok, I am home sick so I'm admittedly a little bored. I found this brooch a couple years ago on the east coast of Canada. If it were silver I would probably have no doubt as to whether it is fur trade related...but it is brass. It's pretty crudely made and I have no idea as to the age of the piece or if it could in any way be considered fur trade. Any input?

[bobsphotogallery]

I hope your illness leaves you soon! ... well I have a feeling it may very well be a trade item.. there have been a number of Brass and Copper brooches found on 1700's sites in my area... here is one I got last year.
Regards
Bob

[romeo-1]

Thanks Bob...that gives me renewed hope. It was found on an old site.

[Lucas]

Might be... Bob's might have been plated, cause the style matches silver FT broaches exactly, and there is record of plated trade silver.

Showed the pic to a friend, who says it looks more like a early Scottish woman's broach. Note the heavy pin needed for holding a shawl on. FT broaches were more decorative than functional, so a very thin pin.

East coast of Canada would be a good place to find early Scottish immigrants. Of course you might want to look at Viking pins too.

[bobsphotogallery]

Lucas could have a point there on the Viking scenario.. those guys were everywhere it seems and they had almost the same shapes for the brooches ....

Here is one I found made from pot copper .....late 1700's site ... I also found pieces of the pot as well !

Bob

[Lucas]

OMG! I've seen the marked kettle pieces before, but never made the connection with Native-made broaches! Too cool!