Re: You may be right

Here is the URL to the Indian Arts and Crafts Board's web page.

http://www.doi.gov/iacb/act.html

The opening remarks on the page state the purpose of the act. It is a truth in advertising law directed toward the sale and resale of Indian made items. Since most Indians do not retail their art/crafts themselves, but instead wholesale to middlemen and galleries, the law is actually directed at all parties involved in the selling and reselling of Indian Arts and Crafts. The artist MUST be authentic and the reseller must maintain records to show authenticity. If the records are lost along the way, the art cannot be offered for sale as Indian made. Provenance is critical to the value of Indian arts and crafts as well as its legal resale as Indian made. If the authenticating documents are lost and there is no way to recover them, the art simply becomes "Indian style."