Clayton Tom's Cosmic Bear Pendant

The Cosmic Bear was first introduced by Navajo Calvin Begay and Clayton Tom in the 1990's. The design became so popular, it has been copied again and again by many other Native American artists. But this pendant pictured here is a brand new, original, handmade piece by Clayton Tom, purchased directly from the artist himself. Clayton's jewelry has consistently earned him top awards at major jewelry art shows and Indian markets and led to his recognition as one of the great masters of micro-inlay design and technique. His jewelry is always in big demand, frequently in short supply and often hard to find.

Buying Authentic Native American Jewelry

Here are a few helpful educational websites with information for the Native American Jewelry buyer. The first is a link to a page on the Indian Arts & Crafts Association's website, entitled Tips For Consumers From their website: "IACA is a international not-for-profit trade association established in 1974 to support the ethical promotion and protection of authentic Native American art and culture. IACA works to stop fraud and abuse within the market through education, publicity, authentication and use of our logo to indicate certified ethical businesses. IACA sponsors the largest wholesale trade shows of handmade Indian art in the world twice a year. IACA's membership represents every link in the arts industry – from Native artists from the U.S. and Canada, to collectors, retailers, wholesalers, museums, government agencies, suppliers and other supporters of Native art." I am currently a member in good standing of IACA.

Here is another helpful Native American Jewelry buyers guide prepared by & provided under a cooperative agreement between the Better Business Bureau and the U. S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Entitled How to Buy Genuine American Indian Arts & Crafts, this article reinforces how important it is to trust the seller you are purchasing your Native American Indian Jewelry from. Make sure you are dealing with a seller who is informed, educated and who guarantees the authenticity of the jewelry you are buying.

My family has dealt in Native American and other antiquities for over 90 years, and I have specialized in Indian Jewelry for more than 20 years. I am in full compliance with the US Dept. of the Interior American Indian Arts & Crafts Act of 1990. And finally, I am a proud member of the Indian Arts and Crafts Association (IACA). This insures the authenticity of the jewelry I sell and protects your investment.

I make frequent trips to New Mexico and Arizona to hand select the jewelry we offer for sale on our website www.tumbleweedsjewelry.com. I buy directly from many of the artists or I buy through well respected traders who deal directly with the artists. As a member of the Indian Arts & Crafts Association, I attend the annual buyer's markets where I get to meet more artists every year. I enjoy promoting the work of the artists that I have personally met.

Read How to Buy Genuine American Indian Arts & Crafts
or IACA's Tips For Consumers now.