Joyful January

Inspired by the iconic Hudson’s Bay 4 Point Trading Blanket, these seed bead earrings are a true Canadian product.  Handmade by me, a Metis woman who is married to a traditional Metis trapper (retired), these earrings bring thoughts of sitting by a fire wrapped up in this thick wool blanket.  This was a much sought-after trade item between the Hudson’s Bay Company fur traders and the local Indigenous people throughout Canada during the early fur trading years.  The Hudson’s Bay Blanket was used to make warm Capotes (Metis Blanket Coats) and gloves as well as gracing the beds in trappers cabins.

The colours of the blanket – white with red, green, yellow and navy blue stripes is STILL the corporate colours of The Bay stores.  After incorporation by English royal charter in 1677, the company functioned as the de facto government in parts of North America for nearly 200 years until the HBC sold the land it owned (the entire Hudson Bay drainage basin, known as Rupert’s Land) to Canada in 1869 as part of the Deed of Surrender.  At its peak, the company controlled the fur trade throughout much of the English- and later British-controlled North America. By the mid-19th century, the company evolved into a mercantile business selling a wide variety of products from furs to fine homeware in a small number of sales shops (as opposed to trading posts) across Canada. These shops were the first step towards the department stores the company owns today.

The earwire or posts (if you choose studs) are silver plated stainless steel.  The triangle frame and small silver feather charm are silver plated brass.  The seed beads are all glass 11/0 size.  The earrings have 13 fringes each and are 5.5 inches long and 1 inch wide.

You can choose these earrings as Dangle, Stud or Clip-on style – whichever suits you 🙂