Art dealer gives ACCC undertaking for misrepresentations about Indigenous Art

Angela Delgiacco of Alice Sundown Aboriginal Art has provided the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission with a court enforceable undertaking after making false or misleading representations in a certificate of authenticity for an Indigenous artwork sold on eBay under the username ‘sundownnt01’.

Ms Delgiacco herself attributed a date and title to the artwork on the certificate.
The title ‘Women’s Hairstring Ceremony’ was attributed to other paintings by famous central Australian Indigenous artist, Makinti Napanangka.

Ms Delgiacco admitted that she had undertaken an internet search of common names for paintings by the artist, Makinti Napanangka and had attributed the name 'Women's Hairstring Ceremony' to the Artwork based on this. Ms Delgiacco confirmed that she did not know what year the Artwork was painted.

Ms Delgiacco has admitted that this conduct contravened the Australian Consumer Law.

The court enforceable undertaking requires Ms Delgiacco to ensure accuracy of information contained in the Certificates of Authenticity that she produces.

“The ACCC is paying close attention to representations made by dealers in the Indigenous art industry, which is extremely important to the welfare of Indigenous people” ACCC Chairman Rod Sims said.

“The ACCC is concerned about the practice of art dealers conducting internet searches in order to ascertain the title of an artwork which they are certifying. “