Endangered species: ivory

Auctioneers and dealers will have to provide proof that antique ivory is aged 70 years and older, according to media reports this morning.

The vendor of the ‘unworked’ elephant tusk trophy that Christie’s offered for sale against CITES rules in 2015, has himself been prosecuted.

The UK antiques trade have been given a near clean bill of health by the leading wildlife trade monitor Traffic.

French Energy and Environment Minister Ségolène Royal has strengthened laws in France on elephant ivory – but appeared to stop well short of a total ban suggested earlier in the year.

As world legislators clamp down on the modern ivory trade, an ATG round table reveals the antique variety has a serious image problem to tackle

Hong Kong has given its ivory traders five years before its rules are tightened.

Joseph Chait, 38, of the IM Chait gallery and auction house in Beverly Hills, has been sentenced to one year and one day in prison after admitting he conspired to smuggle items of rhino horn, ivory and coral.

The rising tide of regulation against ivory, and the consequent threat to the trade in antiques, was a principal subject of debate at last month’s CINOA conference in Paris.

Art market stakeholders are being invited to take part in an online questionnaire on ivory.

The ‘final rule’ of the US law on African elephant ivory, due to come into force on July 6, puts state and federal laws in contradiction, says a leading specialist.

The ‘final rule’ of the US law on African elephant ivory is due to come into force on July 6. Here ATG’s lists the key points of the legislation including where exemptions apply.

A Superior Court judge in Los Angeles heard the opening salvos in a legal challenge to California’s uncompromising law that bans the sale of practically all ivory objects – including those fashioned from narwhal and walrus tusks and sperm whale teeth.

Leaders of art and antiques trade bodies from key markets are due to discuss the rising tide of regulation against ivory, and the consequent threat to the trade of antique ivory, when they meet at the annual gathering international dealers in Paris later this week.

A leading CITES lawyer is warning that UK auctioneers and dealers risk hefty fines due to widespread confusion over the rules controlling the sale of antique ivory.

Another firm has been fined for breaching CITES regulations. South Lanarkshire auctioneers LS Smellie and Son were fined £1500 earlier this month for offering three items of unworked ivory for sale last year.

French art market associations have protested at environment minister Ségolène Royal’s plan to push for “a ban on any kind of ivory trade in France”.

A series of antique weapons were sold by Bonhams earlier this month missing their ivory elements after the items had been surrendered to the UK’s Border Force.

Christie’s have admitted to “an honest and genuine mistake” by putting up for sale an ivory and kutch silver trophy that contravened CITES regulations.

A dozen protesters dressed as elephants gathered outside Woolley & Wallis in Salisbury last week to demonstrate against the sale of ivory at the firm’s Asian art sale.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service have announced a new programme to “help reduce the overall ivory market”.