I recently sold a vintage Zuni Squashblossom necklace. It was sent to a GIA authenticator in CA. They said that it wasn't listed properly. I listed it under all the proper categories. They said that they won't authenticate the piece. Obviously the GIA authenticator wasn't knowledgeable about Native American jewelry. I have been in the business for 45 years and know what's real and what it isn't. The piece was signed by a well known Native artist. I called eBay and was told that I don't have an account and that my name doesn't exist. Really?? I have been selling on eBay for 20 years. They don't know anything about the sale!! This has been going on for 2 weeks now and I have no money, no information about what has happened to my necklace and no help whatsoever from eBay. This policy is so wrong to hijack a piece of jewelry and not get paid for weeks. They have taken this mandatory policy of theirs to the extreme. I understand that their are many fake items out there being sold and that the policy may be appropriate in some circumstances, but this just goes beyond the realm of reason. Maybe train their authenticators in Native American jewelry and how to authenticate it. In the meantime I'm without any information or assistance form eBay. I'm pulling all my pieces that are valuable and selling on a more appropriate site who values sellers and their real pieces.
Thanks for your feedback. Here in Santa Fe a piece of Native American jewelry made in the 1980's is considered antique or vintage. Maybe the authenticator doesn't know anything about Native American Jewelry.
The authentication program handles a great deal of NA pieces, something about your listing is setting them off and therefore they are unable to authenticate.
