Jewelry and artifacts

For more information about buying genuine American Indian made products visit this link for an online booklet of guidelines as provided by the Federal Trade Commission on Buying American Indian made products.

How to Buy Genuine American Indian Arts and Crafts

Information Links

Stone Choices

Care & Cleaning

Custom Southwestern Jewelry

"Our primary purpose is to promote, protect, and preserve authentic Native American art."

~Indian Arts and Crafts Association~

There are Federal laws, as well as guidelines, provided by the U.S. government and organizations that promote and protect the Native American form of art. This page contains articles and links to the Federal Indian Arts and Crafts Board as well as the non-profit association for Native American craftspeople the Indian Arts and Crafts Association.

We have provided these resources and articles so that you, the consumer, can be better informed about American Indian crafts and how to make sure that you are buying genuine American Indian made products.

This article was taken from a page at the www.iaca.com and reprinted exactly as it appears there. IACA is the Indian Arts and Crafts Association.

Tips for Consumers

Is It Real? Is It Hand-Made? Is It Made by Native Artists?

BUYING NATIVE AMERICAN JEWELRY:

Appearance

Is the jewelry well crafted? Are images clear, lines unwavering? Are stones well-cut, uniform in size and secure in their settings? If the design is stamped, is the design clear and even? Stamped designs which show on the inside of the jewelry are frequently mechanically stamped.

Is the artist�s �hallmark� stamped on the jewelry? Many Indian artists use a hallmark to identify their work. The hallmark may be a symbol or a signature of the artist.

Heishi � strung shell or stone beads � should be regular in cut and smooth to the touch. Fine heishi feels like liquid when run through the fingers.
Materials

If jewelry is made of silver, is it marked "Sterling"? If turquoise or other opaque stones are used, is the stone natural or has it been altered to change the color or hardness of the stone?
Price

Genuine handmade Indian jewelry is often expensive. Mechanically produced or imported products made with lower labor costs may cost considerably less. If the price seems too good to be true � it probably is!!
Source

By law, any item sold as Indian or Native American-made, must be the creation of an individual who is a member of a state or federally recognized tribe or tribally certified as an Indian artisan. Ask the seller to certify that the item was Indian made.
Dealer

Buy from an established dealer who will provide a guarantee of authenticity and who will be available later to respond to any questions or complaints you may have about your purchase.
Documentation

Obtain a receipt that includes all pertinent information about the value of your purchase.

For membership, publications or market information, contact:

Indian Arts and Crafts Association
122 La Veta NE,
Albuquerque, NM 87108
(505) 265-9149
fax: (505)265-8251
email: iaca@ix.netcom.com

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The Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-644)

The Federal government started cracking down on those that misrepresent products to be Native American Indian made so they passed a law in 1990 to protect consumers. This law is "The Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-644)" and concerns the truth-in-advertising law that prohibits misrepresentation of products sold as American Indian made within the United States, making it illegal to sell any art or craft product in a manner that falsely suggests it is produced by or is an Indian product, or the product of a particular Indian or Indian tribe or Indian arts and crafts organization. To learn more visit the official site of the governing Indian Arts and Crafts Board at http://www.doi.gov/iacb/enter.html and have the Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 reprinted here: http://www.doi.gov/iacb/act.html Violation of these laws carries very stiff fines and possible jail time.

Southwest Affinity wants to help promote the American Indian's crafts and hopes you will follow these guidelines to assure that the products you have purchased are genuine Native American made.

If you have any questions about the authenticity of products provided by Southwest Affinity, please feel free to contact us