Navajo Rugs A Staple Of Trading Posts

Trading posts on the early Indian reservations in the Southwest were only established with government approval and licensing. A $10,000 bond had to be posted, and the trader was responsible for the behavior of his employees.

The trading posts were a type of general store, and the pricing of the items offered for sale were set by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The trader was held responsible for price lists and monthly invoices. He was not allowed to sell firearms, ammunition or alcoholic beverages. Profits were not to exceed 25 per cent of the cost.

Any person who wished to establish a trading post would look for a good central location, one where regular travel routes existed. A supply of water was essential. Learning the native language was almost a must, and marrying a native woman, which many traders did, also helped business.

Many of the trading posts existed on Navajo reservation land. The first three licenses for this area were granted in 1868. By 1900, there were 36 and at their peak in 1943, 95 trading posts existed there. Following World War II, the trading posts declined in number and importance.

During the first part of the 1900s, tourism became an important source of revenue for the trading posts and also for Navajo weavers. The weavers supplied rugs, which were quickly purchased by visitors to the area.

The most successful trading post owners worked with the Navajo in suggesting colors and designs they thought would sell well. The region around each trading post developed distinctive styles of rug weaving, and the rugs are known by these names, such as Wide Ruins, Ganado and Burnt Water.

To learn more about the early Navajo trading posts and the goods they sold, see Rugs & Posts, 3rd edition, by H. L. James (Schiffer Publishing, 2005.)

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Graniteware Proved 1848 Kitchen Wonder

It was a kitchen wonder when it was first made in 1848, providing a smooth surface for easy cleaning. It was also lightweight, cheap and cheerful looking. Today, graniteware is as popular as ever.

Graniteware is porcelainized enamel that has been bonded to a base metal. The earliest pieces had an iron base. Later, steel replaced the iron. These pieces are noticeably lighter than the earlier iron-based ones. the steel-based pieces were more easily worked, and this change led to an even greater variety of products. Aluminum was tried as a base, but it was too soft, and the pieces dented even more easily than did the steel items.

As manufacturing methods improved, spouts and handles were added. Cast-iron handles were applied from about 1870 to 1890; wooden handles were in use from 1900 to 1910.

A number of companies produced the ware. One of the first was the St. Louis Stamping Co., whose “Granite Iron Ware” probably gave graniteware its name. Agate Iron Ware was the name given by Lalance and Grosjean Manufacturing Co. (L & G) to its product; Lava and Volcanic Enameled Ware came from the Cleveland Stamping & Tool Co. Most companies did not mark their pieces.

A variety of decorative techniques were used. The overall  mottling or speckling is most quickly recognized. Swirls, streaks and marbling were all used, as were embossing, stenciling and silk screening. Decals were frequently seen on children’s utensils.

Despite its easy cleaning, graniteware did have a serious drawback. it chipped fairly easily. This created the opportunity for the real culprit, which was a rusting of the base metal. Since graniteware was inexpensive, however, rusted pieces were just thrown out and replaced with new ones.

Gray graniteware is most common. However, the collector will also find it in red, white, blue, green, yellow, brown and orange.

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ABC Plates Helped Children Learn

Alphabet plates, or ABC  plates, were given to children of the 19th century to help them learn the Alphabet. The letters encircled the border of the plate; the center contained a decoration of something that would appeal to a child, such as an animal, or to his parent, such as a proverb.

Most of the Alphabet plates were made in England. Around the turn of the century, a few were also being made by American potters.

The earliest pieces were of creamware, with moralistic verses in the center. Decorations of animals and play-time activities came later. Designs were applied transfer prints, with sometimes a little additional color added by hand.

The earlier plates had raised letters. The later ones had the letters printed on, along with the central designs.

ABC plates can be found made of pottery, porcelain, glass, silverplate, pewter and tin. There are some that use Braille and some that utilize sign language for deaf children.

Many of the plates will come in sets, with matching bowls and/or mugs.

ABC plates are still being made today, especially by some of the smaller American potteries and studio potteries.

ABC Plates & Mugs, by Irene and Ralph Lindsay, (Collector Books) covers a wide variety of ABC plates, primarily those made of pottery.

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