Bear Thompson - fake or not?

Well, the you need to zero in on the works of the Tlingit ....

 

But there were a number of prosecutions by the FBI, based on the investigations this lady had started.
But that is so rare that most of the sellers probably think they are immune.
And generally, reports to the IACB result in nothing noticeable.

 

To bad Canada is not as strident about protecting our native culture...

 

Exactly, Tlingit are US, and the IACB considers Eskimo to be american also as far as violations of the IACA.

 

I've noticed a few Iroquois false face masks , fake as all get out.....those could qualify as American.. !!!

 

Yes, the Indonesians do make fake Iroquois masks also.

 

Hi,
I have noticed that the fakes you have shown, all seem to have a deeper paint surface and not as age "scuffed" as the real ones. Goodness knows I know nothing about these things but it seems a bit odd to me.
greg

 

I didn't show any real ones xcept the large bronze .

but look at this......here's the authentic mask from the book......circa 1994



Here's a common fake.....& u can see just how well the Bali carvers can copy from a photo....



I show the back because it's always a dead give a way to the fakes.
The offshore wood that's been sanded smooth.....is a mark of the Indonesian carvers, who don't ever see photo's of the back of the masks they are copying !!!!!

and here is one of the newer aged masks.....same design.....signed Bearly Laughable !

 

Indeed. As Greg noted, even without knowledge of the forms, incorrect vs. Correct, there are obvious and tell-tale signs. The fake patina is produced by applying stain or paint, and rubbing it off. So the bare spots make no sense, they are in areas that would not naturally show wear. And anyone familiar with any type of antique has seen real patina, knows how it has a natural beauty, both in the stain and in the wood beneath.
And as komo notes, the backs are very revealing. The Bear fakes are all painted black inside, a common trick for fakers, because it hides the fact that the wood itself is non-native. Natives never do that. A fake Bear food dish, for example, is painted black inside. Who would apply cheap black paint to a bowl they ate from?

 

And the multiple copies...Komo shows two fakes of the mask with the frogs, nearly identical except for the black aging.

 

And there's that cedar bark, Steve.
Who's putting that on these offshore masks !!!! Grrrrrrr.....

 

The backs of some of the most common Indonesian carved FAKES.....

 

& notice the two distinct metal hooks for hanging the mask........if you see those.....run away !!!!

 

So are they really fake or not?

 

So are they really fake or not?

 

So are these things fake or not? I think I just got shafted for a lot of money too and believe you me, I am NOT a buyer of fake anything! Certainly not Tribal art as I believe it should be respected. What are these guys?

 

Dear komokwa:

Thank you so much for your response to my e-bay message. I am one of those people who posted the Bear Thompson masks on Pinterest and have since identified them as fakes. I truly appreciate your expertise! I will definitely take these fakes as a lesson learned. Perhaps I will have a bonfire. They are very cheaply made with yarn and leather patches holding together the articulated masks.

I do have you as a favorite seller and do check if you have any items to sell. I deeply appreciate your offer to help me with Pacific Northwest items since I really do love the art.

Thank you,

irene

 

Oh...YES.....

 

Yes, they are all fakes, sadly. The only genuine items in this thread are the bronze Davidson in Komokwa's post #17, and the first-pictured mask in his post #28.
To be blunt, if an item is "signed by Bear Thompson" it is a fake.

Depending on the circumstances, if one has bought such an item, it may be possible to contact the seller and demand a refund, citing the Indian Arts and Crafts Act, and mentioning that failure to make the refund is a crime under US law. It is a very strong law, and ignorance of the fakery does not excuse the seller from making the refund. Canadian law is much less stringent, and one would have to prove fraud under the general criminal statutes.
The IACB pays much more attention to reports from buyers who have actually been victimized than they do to reports from uninvolved third parties.
And in the case of ebay sellers, if there is still time to leave negative feedback, negatives from several buyers can result in a permanent ban for the seller.
That happened some years back to a seller - Rainbowcat - who was notorious for fakes, especially bone items from Indonesia; he sold a bunch of fake Civil War items (similar to those mentioned by Skeezix in his post #9) and got badly burned as a result.

 

There also is no time limit for making a claim under the IACA, because the criminal penalties are triggered by failure to make a refund; thus, if one bought the item years ago, and makes a demand now, the crime is considered to have taken place now, not when the item was purchased. Lapse of time may of course have an effect, but is not a bar to prosecution.
I'd strongly urge anyone who has purchased a Native fake to make a demand for a refund, and to contact the IACB if a refund is not made. They have an online form at http://www.iacb.doi.gov/file.html

I'm sure either Komokwa or myself would be happy to discuss specific situations privately.