David C. Dittmer
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From the early age of three, David was raised on the plains of Northern Iowa. The oldest of four children, David, even at a young age, felt an affinity for the prairie and could almost hear the distant voices of the OLD ONES and pioneers that were before him.
In 1979, David began "buck skinning", the recreating of history during the fur trade era of our country's past. If he were able to live it, this possibly could answer all the questions he had from his youth and his love of ancient life ways. Since that time, many questions have been answered, but new questions are always there when anyone follows their path in life. That is the joy of "Living History". In 1995, David began to make copies of "Trade silver" with sheets of sterling silver he obtained from an auction. Since that time, David has spent thousands of hours in research and improving his craft recreating silver brooches and related historical items of the early trade period of our colonial history. Today you will find David working at his silver bench 10 to 12 hours a day catching up on his stock and special order items. In the winter months he displays and sells his goods at Trade Shows in a four state area. During the spring, summer and fall months he travels from one rendezvous to another demonstrating his skill as a silversmith and selling his trade silver to other historical reenactors as well as the public. David has become involved with "education days" at many events where hundreds of school children come to learn some of what he has to share about what a silversmith in that time era would have done, worn, eat, and where he would take lodging. He teaches them the importance of trade silver in the beginning of this country's history and why his job was important. He cuts silver on site and they are able to see how the piece takes form. David explains to the children and adults alike what the job of a silversmith was. The silversmith provided "trinkets or toys" to the fur traders so that they were able to trade with the Native Americans for beaver and other various hides and furs. However the beaver was the one item that they most sought after. The reason being was the beaver was a waterproof quality and were turned into hats, mostly for European market where they were highly fashionable. Keeping your head dry and warm was important for health reasons. As an example in our modern times a cold is nothing more than an unwelcome bout of blowing one's nose. In the centuries prior to modern medicine it could have been a matter of life and death. |
David Dittmer
"Cousin Dave" Silversmith
762 Monroe Street
Galesburg, IL 61401
(309) 344-7725
"Cousin Dave" Silversmith
762 Monroe Street
Galesburg, IL 61401
(309) 344-7725