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Original poster

Uses for a Rhino Horn?

62 replies

tigermoth · 27/11/2002 08:02

Rather a conversation stopper, our rhino horn. It sits on our mantlepiece. My husband put it there next to our stuffed crow. Not my choice A family heirloom, the rhino horn was given to my husband - came from his great uncle who shot the poor rhino many years ago in Africa. My husband is not condoning this - he is not a supporter of blood sports.

As heirlooms go, it is near the bottom of my list of desirables - my dh feels the same way pretty much.

But what should we do with it? Would it be awful to sell it? put the money away for our son's education and/or donate to charity - thus letting great uncle give something of real value to the family? But, diffucult to sell, since trade is illegal. Not sure how the law stands on an heirloom though. I understand crushed rhino horn is believed to hold aphrodisiac powers by some, so highly valued in certain quarters.

Should we hide it in the loft, shelve the problem and pass it onto our sons? Should we wave goodbye to both the heirloom and money side and simply donate it to a museum?

Sorry if this is a tasteless subject, but put yourself in our postion and what would you do?

We did not ask for this, it was given to us. Any suggestions welcome!

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 27/11/2002 08:58

Shove it in the blender and use as an aphrodisiac? :0

Seriously, I don't know. I'm not sure you can sell it either although that would be my preferred option. If you can't sell it then the nuseum option is probably better than hiding it away.

I'm not sure I'd want it on my mantlepiece though. Mind you, I'm not sure about the stuffed crow either - something about the little beady eyes of stuffed animals freaks me out!

WideWebWitch · 27/11/2002 09:32

This has got to be one of the most bizarre thread titles! I think I'd phone a museum and see if they'll buy it? Surely it's not illegal for you to have it if it's an heirloom? Anyway, if you could get a museum to pay for it you'd be getting some cash, selling it to and for a good cause and it would be out of your house! Not sure if they would pay for it though, how rare are rhino horns?

WideWebWitch · 27/11/2002 09:39

Blimey, rhino horn is more expensive than gold apparently! Have a look here

Original poster
tigermoth · 27/11/2002 13:02

Just put it on the kitchen scales and it weighs in at over 4lbs, so in theory it's worth approx 30 grand. EEEK!

Can't see anyone offering anything like that - years ago someone offered my husband five hundred pounds for it.

Good idea about contacting a museum, though I suspect they may refuse to buy it off us, can't see any museum wanting to pay the 'going rate'. They may even ask us to donate it since the trade is so frowned on.

Any ideas appreciated - and do you think it's wrong to accept money for it?

OP posts:
WideWebWitch · 27/11/2002 13:08

No, I don't think it's wrong to accept money for it. You didn't kill the rhino and you not taking money won't change the fact that said rhino is dead! I think in your position I'd call a museum anonymously though, maybe you could be prosecuted for having it, who knows? Pretty sure trade in it is illegal so not sure where you'd stand on flogging it. What a strange moral dilemma!

sobernow · 27/11/2002 13:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Batters · 27/11/2002 21:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

robinw · 27/11/2002 22:33

message withdrawn

anais · 27/11/2002 22:39

What about contacting one of the groups mentioned on the site www posted and offering to donate it? They may be able to use it for educational/campaign purposes. Just a thought.

Original poster
tigermoth · 29/11/2002 11:06

thanks for the suggestions. Some years ago we contacted the Natural History Museum, and as it stood then, they did not want to buy it and could not recommend anyone else who would - obviously the NHM did not want to be seen to encourage illegal trade.

Robinw, I did not know all trade was illegal though, so thanks for finding that out. I thought possibly inherited artifacts like this were in a legal grey area.

I will contact the NHM again and let you know what they say.

I must say personally I think we should sell it even thoug I feel a pang of guilt about profiting from this Rhino's death.

The horn is doing no good to anyone while it remains on our mantlepiece. If it's sold we could donate some of the money to a suitable conservation charity and use the rest for our son's education - thereby remembering great uncle in a more useful way.

Yes, I know we could be big hearted, not think of the inheritance factor and give it to a museum, but what if the NHM have several already? I will ask how rare an exhibit a rhino horn is, and possibly we could think about lending it to a museum as a compromise.

PS If anyone is in a similar situation and has sold an artifact like this please let me know!!!!

OP posts:
Original poster
tigermoth · 04/02/2005 20:26

Thread revival!

Natural History Museum aren't interested in buying it off us.

I looked on ebay a few months ago, saw a rhino horn for sale (very vague description, though) and the seller was in the Far East. Don't know if we can legally sell the rhino horn on Ebay - I expect not.

Any suggestions, ebay or otherwise?

OP posts:
Original poster
tigermoth · 04/02/2005 21:00

come on ebayers - help me out!

OP posts:
boudicca · 04/02/2005 21:08

found this, doesn't help you much I'm afraid, but I'm sure if you could proove how old it is more avenues would be open re. selling/donating it.Ivory is also on the CITES list, but experts can tell how old it is and therefore it can be bought and sold etc.

Trade Regulation
All trade in rhino horn is prohibited, since rhinos are protected under Appendix I of CITES. The ban on trade in rhino horns has not been very successful, however. A thriving black market in rhino horn has continued. In 1993, the United States threatened to ban legal imports of wildlife from China, which has a large wildlife trade with the United States, if China did not start taking measures to stop illegal wildlife trade. In response, China made it illegal to sell, buy, trade, or transport rhino horns and tiger bones. Illegal stockpiles of rhino horns and tiger bones remain, however.

JanH · 04/02/2005 21:10

BOUDICCA! I HAVE SOME THOMAS THE TANK KNITTING PATTERNS HERE!!!!

JanH · 04/02/2005 21:10

scuse hijack tm!

philippat · 04/02/2005 21:32

I would be really really surprised if you could find a museum in this country that would be interested (I currently overview collections at 2 museum services) in having it as a gift, let alone buying it off you. Not because of the problems of selling rhino horn, but simply because it won't fit within their collecting policy.

Do you have provenance of when it was killed? My vague memory (don't take as gospel) is that ivory killed before the 1940s is OK to sell without a licence, although you'd need an export licence if you wanted to send it out of the EU. The difficulty is proving the kill date without appropriate documentation - have you at least a will stating it specifically to prove when it came to you? I would have thought condition would help, but would probably not be conclusive.

What you should do is take it to an auction house rather than ebay. Use a reputable one - an established firm local to you is probably the best bet. They shouldn't charge you to give you advice, they definitely won't charge for the valuation if you then put it in a sale with them. They will know the details of the rules, and they will tell you if there is a legal issue about selling it. Try and get it in a specialist sale rather than a general one. They usually take between 10 and 20% seller's premium.

marthamoo · 04/02/2005 21:36

What I want to know is if it is still on your mantelpiece, or have you banished it to the loft/back of a cupboard?

Original poster
tigermoth · 05/02/2005 09:12

thanks very much phillipat. That's really useful information. The rhino horn was left to my dh, but as far as I know, there is no mention about it in any will. I think there's a good chance the rhino was killed before 1940. Possibly by looking at the condition of the horn, an expert could date it, as you say. I'll talk to dh, (I know he is eager to get it valued at least) and ring up some auction houses on Monday. Boudicca, that's useful information. I suspect there is still a thriving underground trade in rhino horn, and we don't want to get caught up in it ( but do want to find a legal way of tapping into it....if I am honest)

Marthamoo, the rhino horn and stuffed crow have travelled round the house in the years since this thread was started. They currently reside in our bedroom.

I promise to tell you what the auction houses tell us.

OP posts:
roisin · 05/02/2005 09:15

Are you planning on keeping the stuffed crow?

This thread has made me LOL today. Hope you find a legal way to get thousands for your Rhino horn!

Original poster
tigermoth · 05/02/2005 09:22

yes, everyone loves the stuffed crow. A perfect pet.

OP posts:
winnie · 05/02/2005 09:34

Tigermoth, I didn't see this the first time around and although I agree that it is right that the trade is banned you have given me pause for thought. What a dilemma. I hope you resolve this and are able to sell it legally

starlover · 05/02/2005 10:19

when i first read this i thought it said "stuffed cow"

big mantelpiece!

winnie · 05/02/2005 15:45

Starlover

starlover · 06/02/2005 22:15

i don't know if this is any help, but i saw flog it the other day and they were talking about selling whale teeth which is ivory, and apparently that is ok to auction and stuff... i know it isn't the exact same thing.. but it is similar?!?!

why don't you find a local auction house and see if they would be prepared to sell it?

Blu · 06/02/2005 22:44

Only you, tigermoth, only you....