Restrictions on ivory.

I was wondering if the rather draconian restrictions on the US domestic possession and sale of ivory objects (discussed on the Ebay boards a while ago) had had any practical effect on the US market, or indeed any noticeable effects at all.

 

At many venues it seems they are afraid to put it out for sale

When I do see some, it seems buyers are afraid to buy it

It has not affected the Chinese appetite for fresh poached ivory yet

 

I will not buy antique ivory anymore as Calif is even stricter than the federal level. The few pieces I had in stock I sold as "bone" just to recoup my costs. In the last few months I have refused offers to buy some very nice ivory pieces. Is just to risky. i got an ebay warning from and a take down of auction of an item with ivory inlay last October .

 

I do see it at yard sales (today) and I am seeing it at estate sales.

 

Is it time to come and buy a car full and take it to Canada, I wonder?

 

Hi AF,
You try to cross the border with a car full of ivory and I can tell you you will be sitting in a federal prison. Years ago I went "antiquing" in Canada. Bought a car full of odd stuff like odd saucers, a few vases, picture frames etc. All wrapped up from yard sales. The officer went through a few bags and decided that I was a hoarder and probably had rats in the car. He distainfully waved me through. He did not find the furs I was smuggling in. Only kidding but I guess I could have smuggled something in.
greg

 

And then there is this silliness . . .
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/05/bagpipes-ivory_n_5651759.html

 

I don't think that we can sell it internationally from Canada, either. And yeah, you'd get stopped either coming or going at the border if you had a trunk full of ivory...

 

As long as folks keep dumping grandma & grandpa's nicely carved antique Chinese ivory items for pennies on the dollar similar to this recent acquisition...





...we'll keep buying! So once the restrictions are amend, we're cashing-out! There's a whole bin full of similar examples. Big, small, short and tall. Chinese & Japanese.

 

I am picking up ivory when I see it. Case in point a bangle I picked up at a venue they would not supervise, and at a different venue, goldwashed 800 sterling earrings. Hard to supervise those yard sales. Someone looks like they pried round stones out of the bracelet, I wonder if jade or coral was set in it, I doubt pearls. Will post pics later.

Will pick up one more piece tomorrow if it is still there. I don't think the restrictions will last forever. I don't want to see any elephants killed for ivory; this is older stuff.

The vase is stunning! I will also cash out and take a trip to Europe.

 

Skeeziks, I called the lady in charge of the community yard sales in EHC. She said the town would not reschedule anything because the 4-H fair is going on this weekend. The local paper is listing a few, some people just stuck some signs up with no advertising for tomorrow. I am busy with this killer estate sale not far from EHC. Been there two days in a row, they said they didn't have anymore jewelry, they found another box in the attic!!!! I posted a pic of a 14k ruby pendant I found there they told me was GF, and will post a pick of the pearls they said were not real on the Finds Thread. I will private message you if you want to go. They keep finding stuff in the attic, and the ladies running it are so tired (took them 5 weeks just to sort and organize what was there the first day) they are just dumping stuff out in bins and tables.

 

Ohhhhhh I LOVE those kind of sales! Wish I was close by !

 

Thanks, Marko!

 

Terry, I tested the ruby pendant and bale with 14k acid putting it right on the piece near the top where the bale meets the finding on the pendant. No reaction or damage to the pendant; the bale, however, started smoking, got the acid off and cleaned it up with silver polish. I put another drop of 14k acid on the back of the pendant, no reaction, no damage. I then tested the bale by putting 10k acid on it directly, it was fine, no reaction. No pitting, no discoloration, both pieces look great. Here are the pearls that the ladies said were not real, set in sterling, five strand good quality freshwater pearls, $5 find the first day, marked MKD:

 

Yard sale and estate sale stuff. Oval elephant ivory earrings set in goldwashed 800 silver, they have another hallmark, can't read it. WRE GF bracelet on bottom, estate sale.

 

It might help if I actually posted a picture. Amber jewelry set in sterling.

 

Terry, I tested the ruby pendant and bale with 14k acid putting it right on the piece near the top where the bale meets the finding on the pendant

You need to be ruthless and take a file to the body of the pendant somewhere, rolled gold is thick enough to test as fine gold unless you get through the surface or hit a patch where there is wear through.
I'd expect that style of piece to be rolled gold, and with no marks I'd be ruthless about proving it is not.

 

A file is overly brutal. A dental pick makes a deep enough but less damaging gouge.

 

I do use a watchmaker's file, I suppose not everyone has one handy so may be thinking of something like this bastard



file.