WWYD - Antique Ivory Jewellery

[TheSecondMrsAshwell]

So here’s the problem, my Dsis and I have just inherited some antique ivory jewellery from our DM. She inherited it from her DGran and was as mortified as we are to have it. She put it in her jewellery box and left it for 50 odd years. It’s just a pendant and a small carved egg. If either were made out of anything else, I’d be delighted to have it.

So what do we do with it? Ideally we want rid of it in a way that can do elephant conservation some good. Any elephant charities that will take it and put it to a good use? A search on t’internet shows me plenty in America and some upsetting articles in British newspapers. But not much else.

Otherwise it’s for my Dsis’s fire, which would seem to be a disservice to the elephant.

I too have inherited some antique ivory (figurines). Personally, I take the view that they were made/sold at a time when they was not the awareness that there is today and I don’t feel guilt for something I did not do and did not in any way participate in.

In other words, I have them sitting out.

I would NEVER buy such a thing myself but I didn’t buy them, some great uncle several generations ago did when he was ‘at sea’. What is done is done.

I have some (not antique but about 40 years old) jewellery. Was of it’s time.

When bought, it needed a declaration form (can’t quite remember the name) (Tanzania) Times have changed - mine are in a box somewhere but I won’t destroy - what for?

Obviously we are all now more aware - but I have these things so shan’t destroy them.

Hope you find somewhere that can deal with it for you. I wouldn't ever want to wear it, regardless of when it was made.

I think you have to appreciate the workmanship and it would be a shame to drop them in the fire but as they are no longer tradeable in any way there are only two options your Mothers or your sisters

I have an ivory bracelet I was given when I was christened. I haven't worn it since I was 5 (its tiny) but I don't know what to do with it.

It was a gift, its not something I'd buy, but it feels wrong to have it.

Antique ivory, tortoiseshell, etc were of their time and I don’t have a problem with them as vintage pieces. I tend to think there are bigger problems to worry about in terms of animals that are being killed TODAY not a century ago. If you don’t want them you could sell them and donate the money to an elephant charity?

If you don’t want them you could sell them and donate the money to an elephant charity?

No, she can't. Selling them is illegal in the U.K. She can keep them or give them away but she can't sell them.

Personally I wouldn't destroy them. That won't help the elephants that died for those pieces and they will be nothing left to show for their death if you just burn them.

To be honest, I would either shove them in a jewellery box and forget the (like your DM did) or give them away to someone who has an appreciation of antique jewellery (and ask them to make a financial donation to an animal charity such as Born Free).

A quick Google suggests it can be sold if it was made earlier than 1947 (happy to be corrected as I know Professor Google is far from infallible). If it's old enough, and this is right, you could sell it and donate the proceeds to charity.

I think you are correct there Screaming. I have heard that before on antiques programmes.

You can sell antique ivory (pre 1948).

My grandad brought back a beautiful ivory necklace of carved elephants from ww2 in India / Burma in 1945.

My mum has now inherited it from my Nan & my sister said to sell it & give the money to an animal charity.

But I want to keep it as it has sentimental & historical value for our family as my Nan had very little jewellery for us to inherit so will keep it, & donate money anyway.

Can I make the point that these are historic objects made by craftsmen/women at a time when it was acceptable to do so. I would feel very unhappy about destroying such an object, no matter how much I deplore the shooting of elephants.

The new Ivory Act hasn’t come into force yet. It’s currently still legal to sell vintage ivory.

A quick Google suggests it can be sold if it was made earlier than 1947 (happy to be corrected as I know Professor Google is far from infallible). If it's old enough, and this is right, you could sell it and donate the proceeds to charity.

The earlier than 1947 exemption only applies if the item is 10% ivory by volume or less. The 10% rule is part of the new bill introduced in Dec last year. So I don't think this (or the other exemptions to the bill) work for the OP.

You currently can still sell pre 47 Ivory, put it through an auction house with no reserve OP and give the proceeds to an elephant charity if you really don't want it in your house. If anyone wants a valuation or second opinion/advice on ivory just message me a pic and I'll try to help

I don't think this (or the other exemptions to the bill) work for the OP
The bill hasn’t come into force yet. So currently you can still sell ivory. For the next few months at least.

actually if these pre date 1947 it is perfectly legal to sell them in UK
if they were made after 1947 it is already illegal to sell them
although I believe the law is changing soon to stop trade in anything other than museum standard ivory items or items with small amounts of ivory it will still be legal to possess these items and inherit them just not sell them the new law has passed parliament but has not been enacted yet

There are exemptions for items containing very small amounts of ivory ie a lot of old furniture has tiny amounts of inlaid ivory on drawer/ door knobs, also the knobs of antique silver teapots for instance, ( made prior to 1947). there are also exemptions for musical instruments ie pianos, ( less than 20% made before 1975) and tiny portrait miniatures done on tiny thin slivers of ivory ( made before 1918 using definition of an antique as 100 years old) so the above items will still be able to be sold, but after the end of this year you will no longer be able to sell ivory bangles beads teething rings, ornaments etc
Sales between museums will be allowed
so you either need to keep them indefinitely as family history they will have no real value as after end of year can't be sold
or you sell them now and use the money as you see fit
I do not think elephant charities accept ivory as they won't sell it to raise funds for their charity

but at present they can be sold, your local auction house will sell them for you, then you can donate the money to an elephant charity

I have an inherited piano which is over 100 years old and has ivory keys, nothing us going to bring back the elephant so I think the least I can do is value it and play it when I can. I'd merl the jewellery but not wear it.

Are they the sort of thing that a museum or exhibition would find useful? For instance, examples of craftmanship from a particular area or group.

Auction houses will still sell ivory, ivory plain beads will make about £30-40 ordinary pieces are not worth much as obviously in 6 months time they will be unsaleable ( i sold some of my late MIL jewellery including ivory beads about 6 months ago)
exquisite pieces but not museum standard will sell quite well as this will be the last opportunity for sales
I imagine the market will be flooded with good but not exquisite pieces of ivory in the next few months from people in similar positions to yourselves,
burning it will achieve nothing

any piano with ivory keys can continue to be bought and sold provided it was made before 1975
we have an antique piano it is going nowhere, it is quite out of tune
my mother is much more musical and has a more recent one though it still has ivory keys, as@floraloctopus says nothing can bring back the elephant so the best way to honour the elephant is to keep using it as long as possible

it is a bit like rare exotic hardwoods, the tree was cut down 200 years ago but by keep using it, it is better than getting rid of it or destroying as that would be more environmentally damaging than keeping on using it, however that doesn't mean we should continue to chop down rare hardwood trees

We keep ours tuned, it's played each day. It's probably a rare hardwood too.

It's made of mahogany so it's doubly bad - but it is what it is, at least it stopped me googling the memphis pattern

I'll have similar issues when a relative of mine dies.

Burning it will achieve nothing except creating pollution. It won't bring the animal back or help current animals. Better to keep it, sell it and donate the proceeds, or donate it to a museum / zoo education centre.

I watch antiques programmes and whenever ivory is mentioned they refer to the Sites agreement which states that any ivory which is believed to be from before 1947 is legal to sell or buy. Any from after that date is illegal to be traded.

the thing is that most mahogany furniture is still perfectly usable 100-200 years later ( unless it has woodworm) it is extremely durable and will still be around when lots of the current MDF plywood stuff is not fit for use
My DH mahogany office desk is 210 years old it will still work as a desk in another 100 years and keep using old furniture is much more environmentally friendly than buying new stuff from sustainable forests