Copying Crafts

The Osgood File (CBS Radio Network): 1/3/03
The Osgood File (CBS Radio Network): 10/28/02

Sophisticated knock-offs manufactured abroad threaten the legitimate Indian arts and crafts industry.

Visitors to the Southwest often return home with colorful Indian handicrafts, like pottery, baskets, carved stone fetishes, woven rugs, Kachina dolls, jewelry and clothing. But many consumers would be surprised to hear that the stone in their new bracelet is actually plastic, not turquoise, and the supposedly handmade basket they bought is actually the product of a factory somewhere in the Pacific Rim. Sophisticated knock-offs of handmade Native American arts and crafts manufactured in countries like the Philippines, Pakistan, Thailand, and Mexico pose a threat to the legitimate Indian arts and crafts industry. The annual domestic market for Indian arts and crafts is at least $1 billion according to the Department of the Interior's Indian Arts and Crafts Board. In 1990, Congress passed a law to protect Indian artists and consumers.

The Indian Arts and Crafts Act, a truth-in-advertising law, provides criminal and civil penalties for falsely marketing products as "Indian-made." Products that appear to be Indian but aren't Indian aren't necessarily illegal. Non-Indian produced "Indian-style" crafts must be labeled with the country of origin. But many fake crafts are deliberately misrepresented and sold as the genuine article. Since fake Indian crafts are usually much cheaper than the real thing, they appeal to bargain-conscious consumers. So what's wrong with getting a good deal on a fake Indian craft? Why should consumers care if the item they are purchasing is the genuine article or not?

Betty Numeroff, an art collector and member of the Indian Arts and Crafts Association, says consumers should care because she says Native crafts are the only indigenous art of America and for that reason alone they need to be preserved. She says that because fake crafts undercut sales of the genuine article, fewer young Native Americans are learning traditional artisans' techniques, deciding to find work in other industries instead. The end result is that if less Native people are practicing their arts, those traditions could risk going extinct. Numeroff says it would be a loss to the entire country's cultural heritage to lose these traditions.

At the US Department of the Interior, the Indian Arts and Crafts Board handles complaints about fake Indian crafts and consumer fraud. Director Meredith Stanton says that for such a small agency, monitoring fake crafts is very difficult. "We're very small. We operate three museums and organize exhibitions and our primary mission is education about the Indian Arts and Crafts Act." She says that they forward consumer complaints about fake Indian crafts to the FBI and the Department of Justice for investigation.

Stanton says that this is a "buyer beware" situation and the best way to send a ripple through the industry is to educate consumers. She says, in much the same way that people spend time researching the best car to buy, they should also spend some time learning about the Indian art before purchasing it, and purchase from reputable dealers, such as respected galleries and museum shops. "As with anything else, a lot of it is common sense." Stanton says consumers should make sure to get tribal documentation in writing to ensure that they are getting the genuine article, about who made the item, what tribe they are from, the materials used, and where the item came from. She says the consumer should beware if the seller won't give specifics about the piece in writing. She also recommends that consumers check the IACB online source directory of Indian owned and operated arts and crafts businesses. Through the web site, consumers can also find out how to file a complaint, and pass along tips about fraudulent crafts.

UPDATE

This story aired on The Osgood File on the CBS Radio Network.

WCBS Newsradio 880 in New York City features an archive of transcripts of stories broadcast on The Osgood File.

The Indian Arts and Crafts Board promotes the economic development of American Indians and Alaska Natives through the expansion of the Indian arts and crafts market.

The Indian Arts and Crafts Association works for the promotion and protection of authentic Native American art and culture, especially to stop fraud and abuse in the Indian art market.

This site discusses contemporary issues in Native arts.

Native Web provides links to Indian arts, artisans, groups and galleries.

The Indian Arts Research Center seeks to inspire the work of contemporary Native American artists and to facilitate scholarly research and public appreciation of Native art.

This site provides definitions of Native American art and information on the Indian Arts and Crafts Act.

CONTACTS

Indian Arts and Crafts Board
U.S. Department of the Interior
1849 C Street, NW, MS 4004-MIB
Washington, DC 20240
Phone: (202) 208-3773
Fax: (202) 208-5196

LINKS

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