New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 4 - CULTURAL RESOURCES
Chapter 51 - MUSEUM OF NEW MEXICO
Part 57 - GOVERNANCE OF THE PORTAL PROGRAM AT THE PALACE OF THE GOVERNORS STATE HISTORY MUSEUM
Section 4.51.57.16 - AUTHENTICITY AND QUALITY STANDARDS

Universal Citation: 4 NM Admin Code 4.51.57.16

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 18, September 24, 2024

A. General Criteria:

(1) Participants shall accurately represent the materials and origins of all products and shall accurately identify the creator of all products and the methodology used to create all products.

(2) Generally prohibited materials: No participant shall use any reconstituted materials; color-shot, pre-drilled, semi-precious stones; imported heishi; or, pre-carved pieces in any jewelry exhibited or offered for sale under the portal.

B. Metalsmithing:

(1) Materials:
(a) Silver: Silver jewelry shall be made of sterling silver or fine silver, and not silver plate or commercial liquid silver. Gold overlay on sterling silver is allowable. All silver jewelry shall have "sterling" or .925 stamped on each piece.

(b) Gold: Gold jewelry must be appropriately stamped, 10K through 24K. All gold-filled jewelry must be appropriately stamped, 10 KGF through 24 KGF.

(c) Copper

(d) Brass: Red and Yellow

(e) Prohibited materials: In addition to the above prohibited materials, no participant shall use any plated silver; commercial liquid silver; reconstituted materials; color-shot, pre-drilled, semi-precious stones; imported heishi; faceted cabochons; lab grown, synthetic, cubic zirconium; gallery wire (also known as gallery bezel); or, pre-carved pieces in any jewelry exhibited or offered for sale in the program area. Given the wide range of patterned wire faceted stones available and its ever evolving nature, it would be burdensome to list each allowed and not allowed. Before the application of such materials, participants must receive clarification from the portal committee that such use would be allowed.

(2) Maker's Mark:
(a) Each participant shall stamp metal jewelry with the participant's maker's mark.

(b) On metal jewelry with stones, participants shall place the maker's mark on the back of the piece opposite of the stone before the stone is set. If the design permits, the maker's mark must be placed on the back of the bezel cup before the stone is set. If the design of a reversible pendant (or other piece of jewelry) makes it impossible to stamp the maker's mark behind the stone, the pendant (or other piece of jewelry) shall be stamped on the bezel. The intention of this provision is to require the participant to stamp the piece before the stones are set, and to make it impossible to stamp such pieces after they are completed. Metal plates with a maker's mark that is soldered or attached by other means to a piece of metal jewelry shall not be permitted.

(3) Findings: Accepted findings used on jewelry sold in the program shall be the following:
(a) Sterling silver findings: All chains, all jump rings, all spring rings, all tie-on hooks and eyes, all crimp type hook and eye earring part, all toggle claps, all screw-on and clip-on earrings, all ear wire types, all ear posts and backs, omega clips, all cuff link and components, all necklace cones, all bolo tips, all bench made beads (2 mm to 9 mm seamless are acceptable), all size money clips, surgical wire for earrings, all size melon beads, and bezel cups in all sizes and shapes from 2 mm to 5 mm.

(b) Nickel or base metal findings: All size buckles backs, all bolo backs, all foxtail and tigertail, all conch backs key rings, including split rings, all barrel catches including eyeglass/chain attachments, all tie tacks, sets and clutches (backs), all scarf pins (stick pins) backs, all pin bars and pinsets (backs), all barrette backs, all tie bar slides, all alligator clips, all expansion centers, all size spring bars, keyholders (safety pins)-large and medium sizes, all size money clips, and wire used in "memory bracelets", and wire post earrings.

(c) 10K-24K gold findings: All ear posts and nuts, joint catches, jump rings, spring rings, bolo backs, bolo tips, and necklace cones. Also 2mm to 9 mm seamless beads.

(d) Gold filled findings: All posts and nut sets, all French wire styles, all hooks and eyes, all spring rings, all size jump rings, all neck chains; all beads, all tie tack backs, all bolo tips, all ear clips, stick pins and clutches, and all size cones.

(e) Red brass or brass findings: All buckle backs, all key ring backs, all concho backs, all bolo backs, all bolo tips, all hooks and eyes, all brass beads, and all size money clips.

(f) Leather findings: All size straps for concho belts and all size braided bolo cords. Vinyl bolo cords are not permitted.

(g) All copper findings. All buckle backs, all key rings backs, all concho backs, all bolo backs, all bolo tips, all hooks and eyes, all brass beads, and all size money clips.

C. Beadwork:

(1) Permitted beadwork materials: Silver, brass or any other metal which has been incorporated with beadwork into the final product shall be Native American handmade. The following materials shall be permitted: all size glass beads, brass beads, all types of legal feathers, all types of leather, porcupine quills (natural color only), genuine natural bone hair pipes, and genuine natural bone disc beads, dentalia shells, and lead crystals.

(2) Beadwork findings: Because beadwork is different from silversmithing, the following findings shall be permitted when incorporated into beadwork items: buckle backings (blanks), barrette backings, bolo backs and tips, sterling silver, aluminum and tin cones for fringe dangles only, metal spots of nickel or brass, barrel screw clasps, hooks and eyes, spring rings, crimp beads, eye pins and head pins, jump rings, split key rings, tie tack mounts, tiger tail, and all earring findings.

(3) Prohibited beadwork materials: The following materials shall not be permitted when incorporated into beadwork: plastic bone hair pipe and pre-cut or pre-shaped, abalone disk.

D. Pottery:

(1) All pottery or clay items shall be handmade of completely natural, earth clay that has been collected from traditional areas and processed by the participant and fired outdoors in the traditional method using natural materials. The director may approve in writing clay from sources other than traditional areas.

(2) Pre-processed or commercially obtained clay or ceramic is not permitted, either alone or in combination with natural clay. Pottery or clay items made of greenware are not permitted.

(3) Acceptable hand-building methods are coil, pinched and slab. Stabilizing bases are allowed for large clay items.

(4) All pottery or clay items must be signed by carving in the item before it is fired. The artisan's mark must also be added prior to firing. Post-firing signatures or artisan's marks and signatures in pencil or paint, without a pre-firing carved signature, are not permitted.

(5) All pottery or clay items that are painted or decorated may only be painted or decorated with natural vegetable or mineral paint, acrylic paint, and /or clear acrylic sealers.

(6) Products may not be fired in an electric kiln.

(7) The post-firing technique of inlaying beads or stones, engraving, or torching of pottery or clay items is permitted.

E. Traditional food stuffs:

(1) Participants may offer traditional food stuffs for sale. Participants shall make foodstuffs in the participant's household within 24 hours of offering.

(2) The following food may be sold: oven bread, uncut fruit and vegetables, tamales, pies, cookies without filling, fry bread, piñon nuts, parched corn, piki bread (paper bread), and ristras (chile strings).

(3) All participants who vend food shall obtain from the city of Santa Fe a valid food handlers card or certificate, which the participant shall exhibit at all times.

(4) All food shall be packaged and labeled with the participant's mark and ingredients.

(5) The director or portal committee shall approve other additional kinds of foods before the participant offers it for sale to the public.

(6) Program food sales may only be conducted from the participant's space.

F. Sandpainting:

(1) All sandpainting shall be Native American handmade of natural materials. No commercial and dyed sand is permitted. However, use of commercial protective sealants is allowed.

(2) Pre-made frames are not allowed.

(3) The participant shall impress each sandpainting with the maker's mark on the face of the sandpainting while the sand is wet. This does not preclude additional marking or signatures, e.g., on the back of the painting.

G. Leatherwork:

(1) Participants shall permanently mark all leatherwork. Marking with ink is not permitted.

(2) Leatherwork without beadwork shall have a branded or stamped mark.

(3) Leatherwork with beadwork shall have a branded, stamped or beaded mark. The maker's mark may also be incorporated into the beaded design.

(4) Leatherwork shall not be marked with any type of ink.

H. Heishi: Heishi products shall be handmade from natural materials, stabilized materials, jet serpentine, pipestone, sea shells and stones. Heishi beads shall be hand rolled, of any size, shape or strand length, with all materials cut, drilled, strung, and shaped by hand.

(1) Materials allowed:
(a) natural and stabilized stones, shells, coral, apple coral;

(b) glass beads and coral when incorporated into one's own work;

(c) pearls and machine-made silver beads when incorporated with your own work.

(2) Prohibited material:
(a) commercial, pre-made, or pre-strung beads;

(b) imported, pre-made heishi, plastic block or chemically made stones, pre-carved, pre-drilled or artificially enhanced material.

(3) Findings allowed: Heishi offered for sale in the program may contain the same findings as beadwork jewelry.

(4) Trademark discs: Makers of heishi and nuggets that are metal discs as their trademark on their products must incorporate the disc into the body area of the item. The metal disc may not be attached to the clasp using a jump ring or any other fastener nor be in the vicinity of the ends of the piece.

I. Other goods: Native American handmade products that are not specifically named in this rule, including but not limited to Native American handmade paintings, basketry, and textiles, are permitted if their size and form permit sales from a space on the portal area without impeding on other participant's spaces and while allowing the public to view the product easily.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. New Mexico may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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