Amazing micro inlay Calvin Begay 'Starry Night' ring
It was some time ago that I was helping with business advice to some Lakota people that I mentioned that they should as part of the tribal groups crafters, establish a trademarking situation, so that their work could be identified as genuine and made by someone from the American Indian heritage.
This serves two purposes, it guarantees authenticity and also helps promote genuine crafts.
I recently came across some jewellery made in the Far East in Vietnam and the Philippines which was 'in the style of' micro inlay work that artists like Calvin Begay had produced.
A 'Galaxy' Onyx micro inlay ring, made in the Philippines
The problem could be in that the products may be described with terms such as 'Zuni,' 'Navajo,' etc. which might infer that they were made by one of those peoples or are a design from those people.
Whilst these are well made items, they are not made in the US or by someone with the heritage.
The labelling could be a problem in time when these items are secondhand or bought used.
Also, the copies of the American made ones are a third of the price and could see unscrupulous people charging higher prices, with purchasers buying something they think is genuine.
The consideration of an authentification mark should be considered!
Comments
Yes Sue, there must be something done to safeguard the work of artists with heritage. I have had my art work copied and passed of as someone else's in the past, flattering but not good. I think your idea is a good one. I also think a coding system where artists can be checked against a list of letter codes might be an answer. But the unscrupulous might also copy those!
Maybe something like a Thunderbird stamped into the work (like the sterling silver mark)? I guess it's a question of the cost in getting it organised though. That ring is really something!