How to shop for Zuni Fetish Necklace without prior experience?
With a huge fan following, Zuni Fetishes are undoubtedly one of the most thriving tribal jewelry art forms. Made from various elements and base materials, they have a deep meaning and history behind them. Ranging from being used as personal accessories to adorning the walls of a home, they have been popular for their unique charm designs and the associated meanings. However, unfortunately, their huge demands have also led to fraudsters trying to trick innocent customers by selling fake jewelry. Thus, it has now become more than essential to have a detailed knowledge of their origin and type to stay on the safe side.
Tips to choosing genuine Zuni Fetish Necklace for beginners
While this may seem too difficult initially, focusing carefully will definitely help you pick out the genuine Zuni fetish necklace seamlessly. Let’s first know how to identify the originality of a Zuni Fetish Necklace from the base of materials used on it.
Differentiating based materials
The first point that separates Zuni tribal arts from others is the origin of their base materials. The carvings are made up of numerous natural elements, ranging from beautiful stones to shells and even fossils. Thus, they are often fragile and heavily priced. However, if the piece you are looking at seems artificial or says ‘Zuni-like,’ it is better to turn around and search elsewhere. Swindlers often mix up toughened plastics called ‘blocks’ or uneven stones to cut and design them as fake fetishes. Afterward, they are dyed up, glued, and displayed at ridiculous rates to try and attract innocent customers.
Getting their Certificate of Origin
To save the precious art form from going down due to the fraud acts of some, the Antique Tribal Arts Dealer Association (ATADA) has passed certain guidelines. This requires all tribal jewelers to apply for a Certificate of Authenticity (CoA) from the authority. The certificate is proof that the jewelry is 100 percent genuine and has no tamperings. Thus, when shopping for your next Zuni fetish necklace, make sure to ask for its CoA. While genuine tribal dealers won’t have any issue in presenting the proof, others will surely try to avoid the topic. Similarly, when searching online, make it a habit to check for the certificate or the embedded hallmarks.
Performing an ‘Eye Test’
No matter how many tricks frauds might pull out from their sleeves, carefully examining them before purchasing always comes in handy. A simple yet effective trick, judging every nook and corner of the fetishes can help you realize if it’s fake or not. Handmade fetishes typically come with ultimate finishing and are smooth to touch. Similarly, another thing to keep in mind is their outer appearance. The color of the Zuni fetishes can vary according to their materials used, as shells and fossils tend to yellow out with time considerably. Thus, the older the fetish is, the more yellowish the color seems. But, fake ones might seem completely white, with visible glances of metallic glue or wavering lines here and there. There is a reason why handmade tribal designs are such a hit, and that is all because of their complex yet beautiful designs, master handcrafts, and minute details.
Judging their behavior
Another trick that can be useful for beginners while shopping for Zuni Fetish necklace online is to mark their specifications gingerly. Getting hands-on genuine tribal art is no rocket science, and hence if the site seems too suspicious, always trust your gut feeling. So, if you find the dealer citing ‘Zuni-like’, ‘Navajo-based’ terms, they are definitely fake. A genuine tribal piece is made by master craftsmen or silversmiths based on their origin and hence depicts the particular tribal and cultural style. You may also find customized hallmarks or designs left by them, which are only conservative to authentic jewelry. Likewise, fake pieces also come with many sets of the same jewelry design, which is not possible in handmade ones. Looking for such repetitions can also prove beneficial in preventing you from making such expensive mistakes.
Conclusion
It is a given that initially determining the genuine ones might seem tricky and time-taking. But when done properly and regularly, you will soon enough be able to master the skill to identify authentic pieces of Zuni tribal art forms. In case you still don’t want to take any risk, consider shopping for authentic Zuni Fetish Necklace from New Mexico Gems. They have a wide collection of handmade native American jewelry to take you by surprise. The best part is there are thousands of positive reviews floating on the internet for its quality craftsmanship in bringing art pieces to life. So, you can count on New Mexico Pepper without giving any second thoughts.
