If you plan to travel to Arizona to attend the 125th Anniversary of the Shootout at the OK Corral, you might find it to have been seduced by the shiny side of the force. If you know a little about what you are doing, you can feel fairly safe buying jewelry. Just be careful and don’t fall for any stories. Trust me.
First: Never, never, ever, ever buy jewelry, rugs, or crafts from roadside vendors. Don’t buy them from the vendors who line the streets along the Palace of the Governor in Santa Fe. Don’t buy from panhandlers.
Rip Off!
Now (sigh) we’ve taken care of the hardest part. Sorry, the hardest part is knowing when to say when. Trust me, been there and done that.
Buying and Selling
If you have a business license bring it with you. Bring extra copies, business cards, and maybe a copy of your business listing in a phone book. Why? Well, there’s a dirty little secret when it comes to buying Native American Jewelry.
Say I’m selling a Squash Blossom Necklace to you for $300. How much did I pay for it? $100. One Third. 1/3rd. 33% -- get the picture? If you are buying from a shop in Santa Fe, Tucson, Bisbee, or even Tombstone, you’re paying more than $300. The mark-up is incredible. The rule of thumb is to never get attached to a piece of Native American jewelry. If someone admires it, add a percentage to what you paid and sell it!
I’ve sold many pieces that way. Want to go into business? This is the easiest way. Oh, back to buying. If you can get the dealer to take a third off, you are doing well. A retailer needs to make a profit. I always sold my jewelry (to my friends) at a third off; good friends got half off, but that was rare.
Styles
There are two primary styles of Native American jewelry from the Southwest: Navajo and Zuni. The Hopi make jewelry, as do the Santo Domingos. It is all highly distinctive and unique. By the time you finish reading this, you will know enough of what you need to know to make an educated purchase.
The Navajo Nation occupies the largest reservation in the United States. The reservation encompasses some of the starkest, most desolate, and absolutely magnificent scenery in the world. The Searchers was filmed on the Reservation as was Cheyenne Autumn and several other John Ford movies.
Article comments
1 - Emil
Yes! Maria Martinez has a great history of pottery making. The San Ildefonso Pueblo has manny great potters.
2 - Sheilah Link
Found your article very helpful and read it even though it was not quite what I was looking for. It was well written and an easy read. Thank you.
3 - Diana
I've found that a great place to buy quality native american art pieces, whether it be pottery, jewelry, rugs, or other crafts, is from a store in Albuquerque, New Mexico called Palms Trading Company. It is a family owned business that sells great products at great prices. To view some of the various items the store sells, go to their website. The store sells authentic pieces, as artists come in daily to trade for other pieces or to sell their work. Check it out-you won't be disappointed.
4 - Swarovski Crystals
Yeah thats great article indeed.I like the history of Pottery making.