The artist hallmark on the back of a piece of jewelry tells us who made that piece. This category is for the Turquoise People community to help put a name to that hallmark.
Please help to identify the artist and stone
No way these pieces came from the same practiced hand as the OP’s reference bracelet. OP’s initial stamps are from the same type of die set sold on Amazon. Around $15 for a set of 38,
The design stamps themselves are slightly off in the way the “v” is cut in the middle of the eyebrow stamp, and in terms of the inconsistency of the stampwork around the stone. This just isn’t the way a Navajo smith, or a smith trained in the Navajo style tackles this motif In terms of spacing or alignment. It looks hand stamped, but there’s no way I’d represent this as Native or Navajo Made without ironclad provenance.
Thank you for your reply. I never said I was going to represent this piece as Native made. I believe that is one of the reasons this site is supposed to be helpful. I was under the impression the this site is to help educate. By the way I have never purchased pieces such as this from Amazon but I do not remember where the piece was purchased. I never said I was actually going to sell the cuff. I came here for help and understand how to identify. I am no expert nor will I ever be an expert like you. Maybe it is a fake! The fact that the stone and the workmanship is nice it appeals to me. Please do not come back to say “The truth hurts”. This has nothing to do with the truth. For some reason you seem to very much dislike me but I have no idea why. At this point it does not matter. Everyone else on this site has been kind and understanding. You have a very pleasant day.
That isn’t the case at all Diane. It is disappointing when something is not exactly what one believed it was, or was hoping for, but that expectation most often has its beginnings with the individual or company which sold the item, and not with the person or group asked to evaluate it. I have absolutely no ill will for you, and you’re correct that I don’t sugar coat, or equivocate regarding the nature of the things individuals bring to the forum for evaluation.
Please understand that we collectively see a high volume of traffic coming to the site for a variety of reasons, and its not at all uncommon for individuals to approach the forum with expectations around a certain piece or pieces that do not correspond with the actual facts associated with those items. The truth is that fraud, and misrepresentation run rampant in the realm of Native American jewelry. So much so that since 1934 there have been felony statutes on the books (The Indian Arts and Crafts Act) updated as recently as 1990, which provide potential criminal penalties of up to 2 million dollars per occurrence, and potentially lengthy prison terms, There is also the possibility of civil liability (law suits), for which the potential costs are virtually uncapped, and limited only by what juries award in damages which can reach hundreds of thousands or even millions, and no shortage of hungry lawyers looking for healthy pay days.
This isn’t the environment most enthusiasts and consumers envision when they fall in love with a piece of jewelry, and Native American arts and crafts, but unfortunately is IS the world we are living in.
I have no reason to doubt that your interest and enthusiasm for this space is genuine, and your motives strictly above board. All of us here on the forum share this enthusiasm, and love for Native American jewelry and arts. We all have that in common.
Far too often though, there are individuals who aware, or not aware of the Federal statutes and crushing civil and criminal penalties associated with misrepresentation and fraud in this space, internet scavengers, and merchandise flppers who are simply looking for a back story to pair with whatever it is they’re seeking to flip, and will use things like the name of a real person or artist that match a set of initials, to misrepresent that item as the work of a particular individual or tribe without a shred of provenance to back it up, or even the most basic understanding if what it is that they’re listiing.
This frankly is very dangerous for the consumer who may eventually wish to resell an item, based on what was represented to them when they purchased the item. Aside from the federal statutes on the books we live in what is one of the most litigious countries on earth, with diploma factories turning out big numbers of baby lawyers looking for their first big score and their ticket to a law partnership.
Now what do you think happens when they zero in an individual or company who created a potential liability and damages for something they knowingly or unknowingly represented to be something other than as represented?
99 times out a hundred, they’re going to point a finger right at you, and say “so and so told me this was the work of ‘__’, from the ‘__’tribe, and I was relying on the expertise from “————“ from the Turquoise People Forum when I listed this for sale”.
I would rather you be mad at me, for providing an eye level take on whatever it is you’re asking the forum about, than see you, or our friends here on the forum in that position.
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I really appreciate you taking the time to explain the situation. I had no idea about the felony statues but that makes perfect since. I would never knowing misrepresent anything because my parents taught me honesty. I sell very expensive handbags on a few forums but I make sure these are authenticated even though I know they are not fake. I am not angry at you and do understand your directness. I would prefer you be honest and everyone else on this site because I am trying to know what I have in my possession. I will keep asking and learning because I do love the beauty of NA jewelry. Now I understand where you are coming from and will not take anything personally. You have a wealth of knowledge which I truly appreciate. I also want to thank you for taking the time to clear up matters. I hope you have a wonderful day. I look forward to more nuggets of information going forward.
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Thank you as well, Diane. All of us here who’ve been around for a while share your passion, and we all learn from one another. This really is a great resource for learning, and we’re delighted to welcome you aboard! - Mike
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