Selling ivory!??

[choppstar10]

Totally off topic, but picking brains. I've just helped my parents clear out my great aunts house and we found a load of Ivory figures/ornaments.

I've been looking to sell them, I'm sure someone would buy them but I have no proof of age for them, though I know they are old (40s/50s) before you send greenpeace round my house.

If anyone knows the laws or knows someone who would take them off my hands or anything would be great. I know they're not very PC but I could do with some money at the moment as my work, or lack of work situation is pretty bleak at the moment.

Cheers.

 

[mtbfix]

I think you may have to have it verified and get a licence to sell it on the up-and-up. A quick google search indicates you have to have proof of age docs. proving it to have been collected prior to 1947 to sell it.

 

[dyna-ti]

I believe its ok to sell before a certain date of manufacture ,if they are antique pieces then its totally ok
You'll have to have them verified and dated by an expert.
Big auction houses with be happy to date and value your pieces if you lead them to believe you would be selling them through their auction house
Once you know that the date is before the legislation and theyre legal to sell then take them anywhere

RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH

Are you sure they're ivory ? things like scrimshaw ,nic-nacs made from whale and walrus, teeth and tusks are totally legal to sell and are very sought after,some of the better quality scrimshaw goes for thousand.
Scrimshaw will almost have some dedication to the sea or ships upon it.
Ivory usually is sculpted into small figures or animals ,sometimes with an incredible degree of skill and attention to detail that is almost celestial,sometimes its a crude lump like figure of Budda
Got some pics :?

 

[choppstar10]

Pretty sure they're ivory, my great uncle (if there is such a thing) was stationed in africa for a while. I also have some zebra skin shoes and bag and a leopard bag too, pretty nasty but someone might find a use for them.

As far as the sculptures go, I think they look pretty crude but I'll get someone to have a look at them anyway, its worth a try!!

Thanks for your help!!