NPR

Odd one this.

I've been left by my aunt a large piece of carved ivory and I have no idea what to do with it.

I've had a look on the internet about selling it and you can't do that unless it was carved before 1946 or something, how do you verify that? I don't particularly want it, although it's quite nice to be honest, but bunging it in a skip seems wrong somehow.

I guess it would need carbon-14 dating to get a proof of age. No idea how much that would cost, you'd have to weigh that up against how much it could potentially be worth I suppose.

Go see a local antique dealer.

Laws were massively tightened a few years ago. Not only meant to be pre 47 but there's some rule about content (mass?).

I have dilemmas over some old pieces which are post 47 but also are genuine pieces of ethic art. If I sold them, the money would go straight to Lewa. Occasionally, I've thought I should destroy them
but then, to what end?

Sadly, the laws do f**k all to prevent people with small d*cks wanting them and rhino horn.

Grind it up and sell it to Chinese lads with limp dicks

You'll make a fortune

Sandstorm wrote: Fri Jul 24, 2020 8:11 am Go see a local antique dealer.

This..
My ex is an antique dealer and handles and sells ivory daily..

Burn it, in memory of the magnificent creature that died.

assfly wrote: Fri Jul 24, 2020 9:33 am Burn it, in memory of the magnificent creature that died.

Well this is of course the dilema, do I do that or do I keep it and use it as part of that memory.

There are loads of antique dealers round here, perhaps I'll ask for some advice.

Slick wrote: Fri Jul 24, 2020 9:36 am
Well this is of course the dilema, do I do that or do I keep it and use it as part of that memory.

There are loads of antique dealers round here, perhaps I'll ask for some advice.

No question about it for me. That elephant was probably butchered along with an entire herd. Why would you want to keep that memory?

Who mentioned about sales proceeds going to LEWA the conservation people?
That sounds cool if you don’t need the money.

assfly wrote: Fri Jul 24, 2020 9:44 am

Slick wrote: Fri Jul 24, 2020 9:36 am
Well this is of course the dilema, do I do that or do I keep it and use it as part of that memory.

There are loads of antique dealers round here, perhaps I'll ask for some advice.

No question about it for me. That elephant was probably butchered along with an entire herd. Why would you want to keep that memory?

keep it as a prize of our final victory over the tyrannical elephant matriarchy

From the BADA website:

In the majority of cases there is no need to use radiocarbon dating to decide the age of an ivory object, unless this is required in support of a criminal prosecution. Listed here are the factors taken into account when an assessment is made by art market professionals and museum curators as to whether an object is a genuine antique. No single factor is used in isolation and knowledgeable specialists will always consider several in parallel.

• Style of object
• Techniques used to create the object
• Subject matter
• Extent of wear and physical ageing
• Dates, initials, marks, names or artistic styles of makers, designers or artists
• Records of age and provenance
• Previously issued CITES import and re-export permits
• Statements or declarations by third party specialists
• Scientific testing

Crudely carved modern tourist mementos and trinkets can be readily distinguished from antique works of art by art market professionals, but the precise dating of those modern day items to an exact year or decade can be more difficult and may require scientific testing.

In summary the vast majority of objects that contain ivory are antiques which are capable of being identified as such.

If the piece you have been left is a large and well-carved object, the chances are you will be fine to sell it, but you will need professional advice.

assfly wrote: Fri Jul 24, 2020 9:44 am

Slick wrote: Fri Jul 24, 2020 9:36 am
Well this is of course the dilema, do I do that or do I keep it and use it as part of that memory.

There are loads of antique dealers round here, perhaps I'll ask for some advice.

No question about it for me. That elephant was probably butchered along with an entire herd. Why would you want to keep that memory?

Might be from a narwhal

assfly wrote: Fri Jul 24, 2020 9:44 am

Slick wrote: Fri Jul 24, 2020 9:36 am
Well this is of course the dilema, do I do that or do I keep it and use it as part of that memory.

There are loads of antique dealers round here, perhaps I'll ask for some advice.

No question about it for me. That elephant was probably butchered along with an entire herd. Why would you want to keep that memory?

Burning it and forgetting it existed doesn’t seem right to me. I’m not trying to make money from it. Keep it to show the kids the barbarity of it or sell it and donate the money to a conservation group seems to make more sense to me

Slick wrote: Fri Jul 24, 2020 11:34 am Burning it and forgetting it existed doesn’t seem right to me. I’m not trying to make money from it. Keep it to show the kids the barbarity of it or sell it and donate the money to a conservation group seems to make more sense to me

Killing an elephant and forgetting it existed doesn't seem right to me.

Sorry I'm not being facetious, it's just something that's personal to me.

If you're going to use it to educate children on the tragedy of ivory poaching then that is good.

If you need some advice from people on the ground, then I suggest you reach out to these guys: https://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/ and whilst you're at it you can adopt a baby orphaned elephant

assfly wrote: Fri Jul 24, 2020 12:33 pm

Slick wrote: Fri Jul 24, 2020 11:34 am Burning it and forgetting it existed doesn’t seem right to me. I’m not trying to make money from it. Keep it to show the kids the barbarity of it or sell it and donate the money to a conservation group seems to make more sense to me

Killing an elephant and forgetting it existed doesn't seem right to me.

Sorry I'm not being facetious, it's just something that's personal to me.

If you're going to use it to educate children on the tragedy of ivory poaching then that is good.

If you need some advice from people on the ground, then I suggest you reach out to these guys: https://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/ and whilst you're at it you can adopt a baby orphaned elephant

Just to be clear, I didn’t kill it.... or buy the ivory.

Thanks for that link, very helpful

Slick wrote: Fri Jul 24, 2020 12:45 pm

assfly wrote: Fri Jul 24, 2020 12:33 pm

Slick wrote: Fri Jul 24, 2020 11:34 am Burning it and forgetting it existed doesn’t seem right to me. I’m not trying to make money from it. Keep it to show the kids the barbarity of it or sell it and donate the money to a conservation group seems to make more sense to me

Killing an elephant and forgetting it existed doesn't seem right to me.

Sorry I'm not being facetious, it's just something that's personal to me.

If you're going to use it to educate children on the tragedy of ivory poaching then that is good.

If you need some advice from people on the ground, then I suggest you reach out to these guys: https://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/ and whilst you're at it you can adopt a baby orphaned elephant

Just to be clear, I didn’t kill it.... or buy the ivory.

Thanks for that link, very helpful

I’d also say that destroying a piece of antique ivory won’t do anything for the elephant that was killed. Selling and using the proceeds to support an elephant or wildlife charity would at least mean that the funds can be used to prevent elephants being killed and maimed in the future.

Slick wrote: Fri Jul 24, 2020 11:34 am

assfly wrote: Fri Jul 24, 2020 9:44 am

Slick wrote: Fri Jul 24, 2020 9:36 am
Well this is of course the dilema, do I do that or do I keep it and use it as part of that memory.

There are loads of antique dealers round here, perhaps I'll ask for some advice.

No question about it for me. That elephant was probably butchered along with an entire herd. Why would you want to keep that memory?

Burning it and forgetting it existed doesn’t seem right to me. I’m not trying to make money from it. Keep it to show the kids the barbarity of it or sell it and donate the money to a conservation group seems to make more sense to me

Take a wander in to Lyon and Turnbull. If you tell them you would like to consign it to their next Asian Art auction they will do a full and free appraisal.

If you have no idea how old it is I am guessing you don't actually know if it is elephant ivory.

I would get it checked out first and talk to an expert.

Ivory doesn't come from just one animal

As above, ask an expert, not the muppets on here! Find a reputable local antique dealer, some of them specialise in Ivory as it’s a common question.

I'd donate the money to a charity if I were you.

http://www.veterans4wildlife.org/ is an option.

Slick wrote: Fri Jul 24, 2020 11:34 am

assfly wrote: Fri Jul 24, 2020 9:44 am

Slick wrote: Fri Jul 24, 2020 9:36 am
Well this is of course the dilema, do I do that or do I keep it and use it as part of that memory.

There are loads of antique dealers round here, perhaps I'll ask for some advice.

No question about it for me. That elephant was probably butchered along with an entire herd. Why would you want to keep that memory?

Burning it and forgetting it existed doesn’t seem right to me. I’m not trying to make money from it. Keep it to show the kids the barbarity of it or sell it and donate the money to a conservation group seems to make more sense to me

Yeah, I can see why you feel like that. I wonder if there is a way of using your dilemma to raise awareness of the issue on a wider scale? Twitface or something or write to local schools and get them to debate it?

Sorry to complicate rather than simplify things. Whatever you decide I think a visit to a local auctioneer / expert is probably the way to go.

There maybe other options if you get it identified and sourced by an antique dealer. Certain museums or countries may take it as a donated item.

Shouldn’t we get it appraised by an art expert? Anyone seen Eug?

what did you do?

Jock42 wrote: Fri Aug 21, 2020 8:51 pmwhat did you do?

Funny you should ask, because I only decided yesterday.

I went to an local antique guy who said “I don’t deal in it but I know a man who does. Bring it in, wrapped up or in a bag, and give me a week and I’ll get a price. Do you understand? Bring it in a bag.”

Wasn’t very keen on that chat so it persuaded me just to keep it. Now holding umbrellas

Slick wrote: Fri Aug 21, 2020 9:08 pm

Jock42 wrote: Fri Aug 21, 2020 8:51 pmwhat did you do?

Funny you should ask, because I only decided yesterday.

I went to an local antique guy who said “I don’t deal in it but I know a man who does. Bring it in, wrapped up or in a bag, and give me a week and I’ll get a price. Do you understand? Bring it in a bag.”

Wasn’t very keen on that chat so it persuaded me just to keep it. Now holding umbrellas

Don't blame you.