Endangered Species

MADAM – In so many respects, anyone reading or watching the news over the last 12 months could quite easily believe that the whole world has gone mad.

MADAM – As a long-term collector of antiques, as well as a student of the auction scene and an active participant in the ongoing debate on the ivory ban, I thought that it might be helpful to bring readers up-to-date in respect of approaches I have made in recent months to Defra’s Ivory Policy Team.

Industry trade bodies have launched a survey that will attempt to measure the financial impact of the Ivory Act (2018) which comes into force later this year. Collectors, dealers and auctioneers of antique ivory are being encouraged to take part.

MADAM – I refer to your Brexit article (‘No deal warning for CITES-listed items’, ATG No 2376).

New rules are now in force regarding the sale of those natural history specimens that require Article 10 certificates.

The laws surrounding antiques made with the parts of endangered species are subject to frequent change. Kim McDonald of The Taxidermy Law Company provides a refresher guide...

MADAM – F Segolini makes some interesting and valid points about the failure of alcohol prohibition in the US (Letters, ATG No 2373).

MADAM – Re: ivory ban. I would very much like to add my tuppence worth to this ongoing issue.

A round-up of art and antiques news from the previous seven days including the sale of a CRW Nevinson study.

MADAM – Further to the distortion of ivory figures by separate piano keys (News, ATG No 2364): surely they are further distorted by the 32 pieces in a chess set, 144 pieces in a Mahjong set, or indeed the 23 balls in an antique snooker set.

MADAM – We have a once fine upright piano in our salerooms, sadly rejected now at three successive sales.