THE STONE PARTS OF NATIVE AMERICAN ARTIFACTS ARE BY NO MEANS RARE IN NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA. WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE THOUSANDS OF YEARS AND THE UNTOLD MILLIONS OF TRIBESMEN IT IS NOT SURPRISING.
THERE ARE QUITE A FEW INTACT WAR CLUBS, SPEARS, SHIELDS, ROBES AND OTHER ARTIFACTS MOSTLY IN MUSEUMS OR PRIVATE COLLECTIONS. BUT THERE ARE MUCH LARGER NUMBERS OF THOSE WITH NO PROVENANCE THAT ARE MADE TO LOOK OLD TO SELL TO COLLECTORS OR FOR WESTERN DECOR. THIS HAS BEING GOING ON FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND IS STILL DONE TODAY. I KNOW QUITE A FEW WHO DO THIS LOCALLY AND IN TEXAS. THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF EXCELLENT FLINT NAPPERS THAT CAN REPLICATE JUST ABOUT ANYTHING AS WELL AS MANY MORE WHO CAN TURN OUT DECENT POINTS BUT NO MASTERPIECES. WE JUST HAD OUR YEARLY POINT AND FOSSIL SHOW HERE IN TULSA YESTERDAY AND THERE WERE THOUSANDS OF ARTIFACTS FOR SALE. MOST AT THIS SHOW ARE AUTHENTIC OR IF RECENT WORK SOLD AS SUCH. WE HAVE MANY EXPERTS ON HAND SO IT WOULD NOT BE EASY TO GET AWAY WITH BRINGING FAKES TO SELL. AT FLEA MARKETS AND GUN SHOWS THAT IS NOT THE CASE SO LOTS OF THIS TYPE OF ITEM CAN BE FOUND FOR SALE ALONG WITH THE OCCASIONAL REAL ITEMS. WE COULD SEPARATE THESE COMPLETELY INTACT ITEMS INTO SEVERAL CATEGORY'S.
#1. AUTHENTIC ARTIFACTS INTACT AND WITH GOOD PROVENIENCE
#2. AUTHENTIC ARTIFACTS INTACT ,DOUBTFUL OR NO PROVENIENCE
#3. AUTHENTIC STONE BLADE OR POINTS WITH A RESTORED HANDLE ALL
DONE USING THE PROPER OLD TECHNIQUES AND MATERIALS.
#4. AUTHENTIC STONE BUT MODERN TECHNIQUES AND MATERIALS USED
FOR THE RESTORATION.
#5. ITEMS MADE USING TRADITIONAL MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES MADE
BY NATIVE AMERICANS FOR PERSONAL OR CEREMONIAL USE WITHIN THE
TRIBE IN RECENT TIMES.
#6.WELL MADE REPLICAS BY NATIVE AMERICANS IN THE PAST FOR WILD
WEST SHOWS OR FOR SALE TO THOSE WHO TRAVEL.
THESE FIRST SIX ARE GOOD COLLECTIBLES IN A ETHNOGRAPHIC SENSE WITH AT LEAST SOME ORIGINAL PARTS OR TRIBAL CONNECTIONS.
#7. POORLY MADE REPLICAS, MADE IN THE PAST BY NATIVE AMERICANS
FOR SALE IN SOUVENIR SHOPS.
#8. REPLICAS WITH ALL NEW MATERIALS SOLD PRIMARILY FOR
DECORATIONS.
#9. ITEMS MADE AND ANTIQUED TO FOOL COLLECTORS INTO THINKING
THEY ARE AUTHENTIC THESE ARE MADE BY NATIVE AMERICAN AS
WELL AS OTHERS AND ARE INTENTIONAL FRAUDS AT LEAST BY THE
MAKERS. AT TIMES THE RE SELLERS DO NOT KNOW OR PERHAPS DON'T
CARE.
ONE FELLOW I KNOW LOOKS NATIVE AMERICAN BUT IS NOT AND SPECIALIZES IN BUYING CHEAP OLD LONG GUNS, ADDING SOME RAWHIDE, PAINT BEADS AND FEATHERS AND A FEW ANTIQUES BRASS TACKS. HIS WORK LOOKS VERY GOOD AND HE HAS NO TROUBLE FINDING BUYERS WHO ARE MOSTLY DEALERS IN SUCH ITEMS. HE ALSO MAKES UP A GOOD STORY TO GO WITH EACH ITEM.
MY PERSONAL WAY OF DEALING WITH THIS IS ALL STONE POINTS ARE DOUBTFUL UNLESS I FIND THEM MYSELF OR A TRUSTED FRIEND FINDS THEM. THOSE WITH PAPERS BY AN EXPERT I KNOW PERSONALLY ARE LIKELY GOOD. EVERYTHING ELSE IS SUSPECT BUT IF I SEE SOMETHING I LIKE AT A FAIR PRICE I WILL BUY IT ANYWAY.
EVEN EXPERIENCED COLLECTORS ARE NEVER PERFECT ALL THE TIME, BUT THAT IS PART OF THE ADVENTURE OF COLLECTING.
