Sad to Report >50% Fraudulent “Indian” items sold to the public
Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010 | Collector Savvy tips, General | No Comments
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
Just 3 Spots Left ! Feb 5 & 6 American Indian Arts Connoisseurship at RISD
Sunday, January 24th, 2010 | Collector Savvy tips, Exhibition news, General | No Comments
Rhode Island School of Design’s Continuing Education is sponsoring 2 meaty days of class covering American Indian baskets, textiles, pottery, beadwork and jewelry 9 am – 5 pm. Their campus is in Providence, Rhode Island.
Cost is $395 for both days during which time tribal identification, dating, value characteristics will be covered along with conservation issues. Known fakes will be presented for your physical examination. A reading list will be provided with our best picks highlighted.
Kateri Weiss will cover beadwork and jewelry with acumen, due to her 40 plus years of experience as a collector and conservator of both. Corinne’s experience stems from her involvement as Gallery 10’s first director (1978) and before as a kid who was charmed by baskets, as well as over 20 years as an appraiser of American Indian arts.
15 attendee maximum, with just 3 spots remaining available !
Call Tiffany Bowman at 401 454-6499 tbowman@risd.edu if you would like to take advantage of this opportunity.
It is my understanding that most of the attendees are appraisers, but collectors might avail themselves of this information as well. We ask that you bring a 10 power loop to assist with your viewing experience.
Call here if you have any questions, 602 906 1633 Corinne
NOT a stupid question !!!
Wednesday, January 6th, 2010 | General | No Comments
What is a Printer’s Proof?
Printer’s Proofs look identical to the regular edition, as frequently the numbering is carried out
after the total edition is completed, to make sure there are enough impressions to issue a Printer’s Proof.
Some workshops require as part of their payment, a Printer’s Proof for each different image with which they assist with the execution. In other cases the Printer’s Proof represents another means of paying a tip to the printer for doing an excellent job, gifted by the publisher or by the artist.
Often these Printer’s Proofs find their way back onto the market when a printer or studio would like to
generate extra funds or when the printer dies and his/her spouse wants to realize some funds.
What is a Trial Proof?
A Trial Proof is entirely different. In the process of finalizing the appearance of a print, the artist makes changes. Proofs are printed to judge how better to improve its appearance. These proofs reveal the development of the print’s final look. They often are not identical to the regular edition, unless they represent the last proof made before the final printing of the edition.
Remember, if there is something you don’t understand on SavvyCollector.com, ask for clarification. My goal is to make the pursuit of art crystal clear, to the best of my ability.
Corinne Cain of www.SavvyCollector.com
Provenance defined more fully
Wednesday, December 30th, 2009 | Collector Savvy tips, General | 1 Comment
- Receipts for the original and subsequent sales going back to artwork’s creation,
naming the dates of purchase, price, seller
- Catalogues from exhibitions in which artwork had been included
naming dates of exhibition and locations of exhibitions and names of museums (exhibition venues)
- Literature citations for the artwork
books in which artwork is discussed and/or illustrated, especially catalogue raisonne citations
Corinne Cain of www.SavvyCollector.com
Provenance, a Non-Fictional Investigation (2009)
Wednesday, December 30th, 2009 | Collector Savvy tips, General | No Comments
Provenance book cover
Commanding , intimidating–this book leaves one guarded about who and what to believe, with respect to the history of ownership of any artwork one might purchase, especially if it is substantial in price. Substantial, but if it is priced too low, this could be your first clue to run don’t walk away!
- Could it be stolen art? OR
- Could it be a forgery?
Provenance, the tracking of when and from whom it was purchased, added to whom had owned it prior to its current owner, can be fictionalized causing a normally cautious buyer to drop their guard. We can be psychologically comforted by the belief that an informed collector previously owned an item when considering an item for purchase.
This book reveals that highly practiced art dealers are fooled less readily, but nevertheless they are victimized along with art collecting novices.
Provenance presents an additional role for an art appraiser to play for collectors. Hire them to research the validity of a provenance provided to perspective buyers, not just to perform valuations as of the prospective date of purchase.
This book is important for those art purchasers who would like to avoid imprudent purchases.
Corinne Cain of SavvyCollector.com
Delicious Art at AZ Latino Arts Center
Saturday, December 12th, 2009 | Exhibition news, General | No Comments
Ignacio Furias Places in the Heart #45
Close to 100 Hispanic artists have broadly ranging artworks, sculptures, paintings, drawings and prints on display at 147 East Adams in downtown Phoenix, Arizona.
The 5400 square foot center will host live performances as well as classes as diverse as tamale cooking and salsa dance lessons. Their gift shop runs the gamut from nearly Japanese flavored masks by Zarco Guerrero to CD’s featuring the work of contemporary Latin American musicians.
Ignacio Furias’s mixed media painting is flawless in its design and execution. A particularly compelling metal and granite sculpture titled Life Without Parole is by Edward Diaz .
Their website is www.alacaz.org
Corinne Cain of www.SavvyCollector.com
SavvyCollector.com, Your Unconventional Gift Registry
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009 | General | No Comments
If you think it is tacky sending loved ones a list of what you like to receive for Christmas, Hanukah or your birthday, remember how fun it was trying to locate a truly odd item chosen for you, when the giver showed up at your house for Thanksgiving dinner?
Build your gift registry on SavvyCollector.com citing items with a range of prices and you won’t have to flinch when opening something from that kooky aunt of yours who lives across the country.
Plus as all items on the site are advantageously priced, your friends and family can spend less and get more for you!
Corinne Cain of www.SavvyCollector.com offering a bit of shameless self promotion for SavvyCollector.com, your unconventional gift registry.
Help loved ones to get you what you want versus items you’ll want to regift!
Watch our latest YouTube video touting the SavvyCollector.com gift registry. As usual, it is comedic!
Transparent Auction Prices are Not Entirely Transparent
Tuesday, November 24th, 2009 | Collector Savvy tips, General | 2 Comments
Subscribe to AskArt.com or ArtNet.com to witness auction activity.
Search auction activity by artist and then by medium, then observe dimensions.
What you don’t see is the condition, which has a large bearing on value.
Was the illustration good enough to judge the quality of the artwork’s execution?
The artwork’s date is not always known or disclosed.
Is the auction a top-tier forum for the sale of this artist’s work?
Was the auction well attended by buyers interested in this artist’s work?
Did the auction take place during a strong period of positive recognition for this artist?
Was the sale well publicized?
What was the general state of the market, such as the economic downturn currently in place?
Each of the above considerations must be weighed along with the sometimes sketchy information provided in a printed or an online catalogue, especially if you are using these prices realized as a guide as to the value of this artist’s work.
Corinne Cain of www.SavvyCollector.com
Dreamers in Dream City
Friday, November 20th, 2009 | General | 1 Comment
Frank Gehry, international architect
The sleeper exhibit at the Autry National Center in Burbank is a photographic expose of 54 movers and shakers, who have helped to shape Los Angeles over the last century plus. The photographer, Harry Brant Chandler, a local man from one of the more prominent families in Los Angeles, pairs images of these individuals as well as interesting quips about what drove these special individuals to follow their dreams.
September 25, 2009 through January 3, 2010 represents the run of this entirely inspiring presentation !
Corinne Cain of www.SavvyCollector.com
Amelia Earhart, international pilot
Autry Museum’s Basket Exhibit Dazzles !!!
Thursday, November 19th, 2009 | Collector Savvy tips, Exhibition news | 1 Comment
Pomo Gift Basket with Feathers and Shells
Hopped a plane, like a routine jet setter, to the Burbank Airport in Southern California. 6.7 miles from the airport is the Autry National Center situated in Griffith Park, across from the Zoo.
Actually a breakfast stop was required, at which time I discovered a foodie’s hole in one, called Porto’s–a Cuban bakery restaurant with pastries, cakes, cookies extraordinaire with plenty of space for sit down customers. Drive just 3 miles in the wrong direction from the Burbank Airport to reach Porto’s (3614 W Magnolia Blvd)–wrong if you are headed directly for the National Autry Center.
At the Autry’s exhibit, A Living Tradition The Art of Native American Basketry, stop at the electronic kiosks to examine some baskets in the enlarge mode. Your eyes will “feel” basket fibers, due to the intense magnification. Then plan to spend about an hour reading plaques and staring at baskets from every region in the United States, including Alaska.
Know what baleen is conceptionally? Here at the museum, you are invited to stroke a section of baleen with your hand. Hands-on-learning cements information into your memory.
Another bonus is reading whether the basketry form you are oogling was made for the maker’s use or for tourist consumption.
There are brief videos of current basket weavers talking about how they chose to make baskets, who influenced their work and what it is like just locating the raw materials before actually weaving a basket.
You come away with a deep appreciation of an art form simply called basketry.
Something fun in their gift shop is a basketmaking kit. It allows you to fashion a basket of your own, without having to wander in fields to locate the raw materials. Cost is about $20.
This exhibit will close May 30, 2010, which means you have 7 months left to travel to Southern California to experience this impressive exhibit!
Corinne Cain of www.SavvyCollector.com