November 2, 2009 Wall Street Journal article by Stephanie Simon addresses sales of American Indian pottery, jewelry, rugs and other merchandise is largely misrepresented–so know from whom you are buying.
“The Indian Arts and Crafts Association, a trade group, estimates that nationally, as much as 75% of the roughly $1 billion of jewelry, pottery, rugs and other merchandise sold every year as authentic, is not. In the jewelry business, as many as 90% of pieces held out as examples of Native American craftsmanship are fake, according to the New Mexico attorney general’s consumer-protection division, which is trying to police the trade along with federal authorities”.
“Some of the imported jewelry is exquisite, studded with real gems and painstakingly crafted–only, it is made by Chinese or Thai or Filipino works abroad, not by Native American artisans. Other pieces are mass-produced with polished bits of plastic that look uncannily like real jewels.”
I’ve seen some examples stamped with a Navajo individual’s name, with the item not having been made by that person at all.
Prospective buyers are encouraged to visit www.ATADA.org, a self-policing organization that dismisses members guilty of misrepresentation. Yes, I am a member, but so are many, many other professional dealers located all over the country.
Respect your hard-earned funds and make inquiries about the source of your purchases of American Indian arts.
Corinne Cain of www.SavvyCollector.com
Kateri Weiss and I will be teaching a 2-day class to appraisers on the does and don’t of appraising American Indian beadwork, jewelry, baskets, textiles and pottery February 5 and 6–Rhode Island School of Design, Continuing Education