About Me
How To Use
The American Indian Art Dealers Directory is a one of a kind site where collectors can search for shops when traveling or planning a trip or are looking for specific things on the internet. You will know before you get to a shop, or spend all day searching the web, what types of things a dealer carries and at what price level.
You will find here dealers who, I believe, are ethical, honest and fair in their practices of selling authentic American Indian Art. They are also incredibly experienced, interesting, full of wonderful stories (some of these are told in their profiles) and harbor great awe and respect for the artists they represent.
Screening Critera
My screening for inclusion here is very subjective. If the clerks can`t tell me whether something is Native American made or can`t tell the difference between green turquoise and gaspeite, I leave. If they give me prices that would be 50% or more off on everything, I leave. (It is considered unethical among retailers to jack up prices just to offer a discount. Most good shop owners set fair prices and you cannot expect much discount from them.) A good shop is so into it`s artists that the clerks/ owners can`t wait to show you their latest works, so if they don`t engage in conversation about the pottery, katsinas, baskets, fetishes, etc. that I`m looking at, I leave.
On the other hand, if a shop does not appear on these pages, it may be because I haven`t been there yet. And there are a lot I have not yet been to. I have listed on individual profiles, the organizations to which a dealer belongs which require agreement with a code of ethics. I`ve also learned in my travels that just because a dealer doesn`t belong to one of these does not mean he isn`t ethical. The good news is that if he does belong, he`s had to jump a few hurdles to get there and is a good bet for authenticity.
Even more subjective are the inclusion of things like a jewelry repair shop in Albuquerque that is highly experienced with Native American jewelry, but also fast, friendly and ethical, and really handy when you need a cuff made larger or a stone reset on a squash.
Then there is the gallery in Maine where a non Native American sculptor has spent 20 years documenting the life of the Northeast woodland tribes in his bronzes. If you have an interest in Native American art and culture, you surely would want to stop in at Jed`s gallery as you are traveling by.
And I don`t know how to explain the inclusion of Dell Orr in Taos, who claims to be one of the last 10 roach headdress (a piece of Indian dance regalia) makers in the country except if you are driving by, it`s worth a stop just to say hi to someone who has been dealing with native americans for 40 years.
Search Tips
Search profiles by state, city, shop name or artist. Search by 'internet' to find shops selling on the web. Search by specific art such as pottery, katsinas, weavings, etc.
