Trading Posts

Rósa... Indians trading posts are old; the oldest we drove past are from mid 19th century. The Indians traded their crafts for all kind of goods. No money, just item for item and of course a bargain. The business took place at certain places, the trading posts. Nowadays, at the old trading posts, Indians sell all kinds of home made products and artwork. The products are bowls and figurines made of clay, jewelery and kachina dolls. Some of the productions reminded me of Icelandic crafts.

We have seen a lot of traditional clay bowls and some beautiful artwork. Especially in Acoma the art was great. Yesterday, when we drove towards Taos we obviously were entering area with weaving as an old tradition. On NM highway 76 we passed Ortega's Weaving Shop which is maybe most famous because the Ortegas have lived there and practiced weaving for eight generations. The shop was closed when we drove by but I look forward to seeing the rugs and blankets at the trading post in Taos (but I will try not to be tempted to buy one, I have to much luggage already)!

I could not take any pictures at the trading posts but I can take pictures of the items we bought and I will put some samples here when I have organized my pictures!

Also, we found a few pictures of potteries on the website Pottery Page #1.

The book Trading Post: Guidebook by Eddington and Makov (1995) is helpful if one wants to know more about where and what to buy at modern trading posts. Eddington and Makov point out that the trading posts always have been "portals between two worlds - a place where Indians and Anglos meet to exchange merchandise, ideas, jokes, news, and some of the finest arts and crafts of the day." This I have experienced on my travel through the Indian country!