How to Buy Genuine American Indian Arts and Crafts

HOW TO BUY GENUINE BUY TO HOW

Stones Stone Treatments IF YOU HAVE A COMPLAINT The most common stones used in American Indian Turquoise and other natural or mined stones used The FTC works for the consumer to prevent jewelry include: in jewelry may have been treated. Treating refers fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices

to any alteration of the properties or appearance A Carnelian — a translucent reddish quartz stone. in the marketplace and to provide information of natural turquoise and other stones, with the to help consumers spot, stop and avoid them. Coral — the hardened secretion of tiny sea exception of cutting and polishing. Under the To fi le a complaint or to get free information on mer creatures. Coral ranges in color from white and FTC’s Jewelry Guides, consumers should be told consumer issues, visit www.ftc.gov or call toll- pale pink to deep reds and oranges. if a stone has been treated and the treatment is free, 1–877–FTC–HELP (1–877-382–4357); not permanent, the treatment creates special care Lapis Lazuli — a rock composed chiefl y TTY: 1–866–653–4261. The FTC enters Internet,

requirements, or the treatment has a signifi cant ic of the minerals lazurite (deep blue), pyrite telemarketing, identity theft and other fraud- effect on the stone’s value. (metallic yellow) and calcite (white). The blue related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a an Indian A stone is commonly used in modern designs by Dyeing — adding blue dye to low-grade secure, online database available to hundreds of contemporary Indian artists. turquoise, and adding black to gray or pale blue civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the onyx, to enhance the stone’s appearance. U.S. and abroad. Onyx — a translucent quartz stone which, in its The Indian Arts and Crafts Board receives and natural state, is usually gray or pale blue. Onyx Reconstitution — pulverizing fragments of refers valid complaints about violations of frequently is dyed black. turquoise, coral or lapis lazuli into powder. The the Indian Arts and Crafts Act to the FBI for powder is mixed with epoxy and worked into Shell — the general term used for pieces of investigation and to the Department of Justice cakes or stones, which are used just like natural the outer hard surface of marine animals, for legal action. To fi le a complaint under the Act, stones. particularly those of pearl oysters and abalones. or to get free information about the Act, call the Shell may be used in silver inlay work or may be Stabilizing — Injecting clear, colorless Indian Arts and Crafts Board, U.S. Department shaped into fl attened disks, drilled and strung acrylics into low- to medium-grade turquoise of the Interior, toll-free at 1–888–ART–FAKE into necklaces known as heishi. to toughen and harden the stone and enhance (1–888–278–3253), or use the online complaint its color. Stabilizing is the most advanced and form at www.iacb.doi.gov. You also may write to r Turquoise — a copper mineral, often containing ts a sophisticated method of treating turquoise. The small brown or gray veins. Turquoise ranges in the Indian Arts and Crafts Board at 1849 C Street, majority of turquoise used today is stabilized. color from sky-blue to greenish-blue. The stone N.W., MS 2058–M1B, Washington, D.C. 20240. Natural gem-quality turquoise is usually only varies in hardness from soft/somewhat porous

used by top artists and commands much higher nd to hard. In the U.S., turquoise is found in the prices than stabilized turquoise. FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION ftc.gov southwestern states. Use of turquoise from other countries is common. It’s not always easy to spot a counterfeit item 1-877-FTC-HELP FOR THE CONSUMER but price, materials, appearance, and the seller’s Federal Trade Commission C guarantee of authenticity may help. Bureau of Consumer Protection r

Produced in cooperation with the Indian Arts and Crafts Board, a U.S. Department of the Interior f t February 2006 s hether you’re drawn to the beauty of turquoise and silver jewelry or the earth tone Wcolors of Indian pottery, having some knowledge about American Indian arts and crafts can help you get the most for your money. Be aware also that because Indian arts and crafts are prized and often command higher prices, a few unscrupulous sellers misrepresent imitation arts and crafts as genuine.

GETTING WHAT YOU PAY FOR BUYING TIPS IDENTIFYING AUTHENTIC AMERICAN TYPE OF MATERIALS The Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 helps ensure American Indian arts and crafts are sold through INDIAN JEWELRY Silver that buyers of Indian arts and crafts products get many outlets, including tourist stores, gift shops Price — Although Indians may make and sell Silver is the most common what they pay for by making it illegal to misrepresent and art galleries. Here are some tips to help you inexpensive souvenir-type items, authentic high- metal used in American that a product is made by an Indian. Under the Act, shop wisely: quality Indian jewelry can be expensive. Indian jewelry. any item produced after 1935 that is marketed using Buy from an established dealer who will give terms such as “Indian,” “Native American” or “Alaska you a written guarantee or written verifi cation of Appearance — Well-crafted jewelry has no Sterling describes metal Native” must be made by a member of a State or authenticity. wavering lines or lopsided designs. If a design is containing 92.5 parts silver federally-recognized tribe or by a certifi ed Indian stamped into silver — the most common metal and 7.5 parts other metal. artisan. A certifi ed Indian artisan is an individual Get a receipt that includes all the vital used — the image should be clear. Images on According to the Federal Trade Commission’s who is certifi ed by an Indian tribe as a nonmember information about the value of your purchase, imitations often are blurred. High-quality pieces (FTC) Jewelry Guides, any item marked “silver” Indian artisan. including any verbal representations. For use stones that are well-cut and uniform in size, must be sterling. example, if the salesperson told you that the and fi t snugly into their settings. The stones on In advertising or marketing a product, it is a violation describes metal containing 90 parts piece of jewelry you’re buying is sterling silver imitations may be poorly cut, leaving a large Coin Silver of the Act to state or imply falsely that the product is silver and 10 parts other metal. It is called “coin” and natural turquoise and was handmade by amount of metal-colored glue visible between made by an Indian or is the product of a particular because Indians melted down pre-1900 American an American Indian artisan, insist that this the stone and the metal. Look for the artist’s tribe. For example, advertising or marketing a and Mexican coins to make jewelry before they information appear on your receipt. “hallmark” stamped on the jewelry. Many Indian product as “Navajo Jewelry” that is not produced by were able to obtain commercially made ingots and artists use a hallmark — a symbol or signature members of the Navajo Nation is a violation of the Before buying Indian arts and crafts at sheet silver. law. Terms such as “Indian,” “Native American” or powwows, annual fairs, juried competitions, — to identify their work. German Silver — also called Nickel Silver — the name of a particular Indian tribe, accompanied and other events, check the event requirements Guarantee of Authenticity — refers to 60 parts copper, 20 parts zinc, and by qualifi ers such as “ancestry,” “descent” and for information about the authenticity of the A re putable dealer will give 20 parts nickel. Under the FTC’s Jewelry Guides, “heritage” — for instance, “Native American heritage” products being offered for sale. Many events you a written guarantee. or “Cherokee descent” — do not mean that the person list their requirements in newspaper ads, no item should be called silver, even with a is a member of an Indian tribe. These terms do mean promotional fl yers and printed programs. If modifi er such as “German” or “Nickel,” unless it that the person is of descent, heritage or ancestry the event organizers make no statement about contains at least 90 percent silver. Nevertheless, of the tribe, and the terms should be used only the authenticity of Indian arts and crafts being you may see or hear this term used in connection if truthful. offered for sale, get written verifi cation of with Indian jewelry. In particular, some Sioux and authenticity for any item you purchase that Southern Plains Indian metalsmiths work in this claims to be authentic. metal because it is associated with their cultural heritage. For an Indian art or craft object to be an “Indian product” all work on the product must Drawn Silver refers to the way sterling sheet have been by an Indian or Indians. More silver is rolled and pulled through a drawplate information about the Indian Arts and Crafts Act to get a certain circumference. It is then cut into and related regulations can be obtained by visiting tiny segments, fi led and strung into strands for the Web site of the Indian Arts and Crafts Board, necklaces. It is sometimes called “liquid silver.” www.iacb.doi.gov, or by calling the Board’s A few artists make hand-pulled silver but the toll-free number, 1–888–ART–FAKE. majority of liquid silver is manufactured, not handmade.