Native American Studies Student Publications
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
Winter 12-10-2025
Abstract
"Old pawn" is widely used to describe antique Native American jewelry and goods once pawned for credit at trading posts in the Four Corners region. This article traces how the trading post pawn system influenced Diné Navajo economic life from 1868 through the 1970s, when federal regulators documented exploitative practices such as inflated interest, withheld mail, and items sold without notice. Weavers and individuals pawning jewelry typically received store credit or overvalued commodities instead of cash, a result of the power dynamics of the setting. Today, "old pawn" functions as a marketing label for vintage goods, often without documentation. The article examines how a historical pawn system became a loosely applied sales term.
Language (ISO)
English
Keywords
Trading posts, Old Pawn, Public Health, Diné, Jewelry, Navajo Weaving, Southwest, Silver Jewelry, Turquoise
Recommended Citation
Roberto, Dustin. "Trading Posts and "Old Pawn": Diné Navajo Trade and the Native Art Industry." (2025). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/natv_sp/5
Included in
Anthropology Commons, Community-Based Research Commons, Fiber, Textile, and Weaving Arts Commons, Health Economics Commons, Indigenous Studies Commons, Metal and Jewelry Arts Commons, Native American Studies Commons