Endangered species: ivory

Further to your excellent report on the Ivory Act (‘Dealers outraged at report claiming benefits of the Ivory Act nearly four years on’, News, ATG No 2728), may I perhaps go further?

Antiques dealers have described the Ivory Act as a “vast amount of expensive, time-consuming red tape” which has, for one, “taken away 50% of annual turnover”.

Norfolk auction house TW Gaze has secured permission to sell an Edo period ivory netsuke in the spring.

Among the reasons for the introduction of the UK's Ivory Act was to encourage other nations to bring in their own restrictions. However, little evidence has emerged so far that it has had this effect.

Yet again, we the public and dealers are to be deprived of seeing, buying or selling beautiful works of art – scrimshaw – when the ban comes into force this month (News, ATG No 2676).

The two leading US trade associations have won a legal challenge against a law that said dealers in New York could not display antiques made from more than 20% elephant ivory.

The UK ban on the trade in antique scrimshaw and narwhal tusks has been delayed following the change of government.

The trade in most antique scrimshaw and narwhal tusks will effectively be banned in the UK in just over two months

A lawyer writes: Case study of an ivory import shows how frustrating the system can become

The sale at Moore Allen & Innocent on October 11-12 includes a series of personal items relating to William Duke of Clarence, later William IV (1765-1837).

The ivory-made launching mallet and silver casket from the ill-fated RMS Empress of Ireland came for sale at McTear’s (24% buyer’s premium) in Glasgow.

A new auction record for netsuke – over three times the previous high – has been set in France.

I despair of this government. After banning antique ivory sales we now will see the disappearance of what I consider works of art from sailors long ago passing the time by carving on animal tusks (ATG No 2595).

This week we have heard that the government plans to ‘extend the Ivory ban’. It has been reported in the press, on the radio and on television.

The trade in antique scrimshaw and narwhal tusks will effectively be banned in the UK once a proposed extension to the Ivory Act becomes law.