Customs Crafts

For your customs declaration in French, you can use terms that clearly distinguish your homemade items from "fine art" or commercially valuable artworks. Here are some appropriate and accurate ways to describe them:

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1. General Terms for Homemade Crafts

Use these terms to emphasize that your items are personal, handmade, and not intended for sale or exhibition as fine art:

• "Objets artisanaux faits maison" (homemade craft items)
• "Créations artisanales personnelles" (personal handmade crafts)
• "Bricolages" (DIY crafts, often used for simple or amateur creations)
• "Objets décoratifs faits main" (handmade decorative items)
• "Petits objets artisanaux" (small craft items)

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2. Specific Descriptions

If you want to be more specific, you can add details about the materials or purpose:

• "Figurines en bois sculptées à la main" (hand-carved wooden figurines)
• "Décorations murales en papier mâché" (papier-mâché wall decorations)
• "Poteries ou céramiques artisanales" (handmade pottery or ceramics)
• "Objets décoratifs en matériaux recyclés" (decorative items made from recycled materials)

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3. Avoiding Confusion with Fine Art

To ensure customs does not mistake your items for valuable art:

• Do not use: "Œuvres d’art" (artworks), "Peintures" (paintings), "Sculptures" (sculptures), or "Art contemporain" (contemporary art).
• Instead, use: "Objets artisanaux sans valeur commerciale" (craft items with no commercial value) or "Créations personnelles non professionnelles" (personal, non-professional creations).

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4. Example for Your Customs Form

Example Customs Description

5 objets artisanaux faits maison (bois, peinture, matériaux recyclés)

5 homemade craft items (wood, paint, recycled materials)

3 décorations murales en papier mâché

3 papier-mâché wall decorations

2 figurines en bois sculptées à la main

2 hand-carved wooden figurines

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5. Additional Tips

• Clarify the purpose: You can add a note like "Pour usage personnel uniquement, sans valeur marchande" (for personal use only, no market value).
• Include photos: If you’re concerned about customs questioning the value, attach photos to show the amateur/homemade nature of the items.
• Consult your freight forwarder: They can help you phrase descriptions in a way that avoids unnecessary scrutiny.

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This approach ensures your items are accurately represented and minimizes the risk of customs treating them as fine art, which could complicate the process. If you’d like, I can help you draft a full inventory list in French!