Featured Help/ID Needed: Ornate Carved Clamshell Diorama

Hi All- my father found this neat carving at a garage sale over ten years ago, and he recently gave it to me. The piece obviously required a high degree of skill to make such an intricate carving, but I am absolutely clueless as to its maker, country of origins, and age.

It is approximately 4.5" x 2" x 2", and definitely looks to be some sort of bone, based on the pattern/graining on the surface.

I would welcome any additional feedback the forum may have.

Thanks in advance.

 

It is elephant ivory.

 

Lots to look at here ...
https://www.google.com/search?q=Ivo...i4v5fWvrn-AhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQBw&biw=1918&bih=942

 

Very cool!

 

As such @mattytreks, if you're wanting to sell it, you will most likely have to rethink that

 

Wow!

 

Ahh, as in elephant tusks? Hmm, ok.

What should be done with it?

 

As in elephant tusk.

What you do with it will depend on the options allowed to you under the laws of your locale. Sale of ivory is highly restricted these days & fines can be high for being caught violating regulations, although I don't know how much regulatory attention is given to sellers who do not specialize in merchandise likely to be ivory.

 

Hello @mattytreks & welcome to the forum!!

Just enjoy the item & marvel at the amount of talent it takes to carve something this intricate.

It is not illegal to own. The restrictions are on the sale of ivory & chances are this item was done long before there was a ban on ivory.

As @Bronwen said you need to check the regulations in your state. Some states allow the sale but restrict sales that cross their border.

eBay does not allow it at all although some sellers play dumb & they either don't mention it at all or refer to it as "bone". Some of them get away with it & some don't.

Don't get me wrong as I am totally against the slaughtering of elephants but destroying stuff that has been around for sometimes hundreds of years is not going to help the situation. JMHO

 

it's a tough question for African countries....to burn...or not to burn..

 

Thanks everyone, for all of the feedback!

@bercrystal (or anyone else for that matter), is there any way to trace the age or country of origin?

 

In order to sell it in most places you would need to provide the item's history. An official appraisal which probably would be expensive. You need to look into the laws where you live to find out what they require.

 

not unless u can find multiples that are identified
...imo