While I have found the process of exempting ivory works of art with ‘historical value’ straightforward so far (a snip at £240 per application), I am interested to know the trade’s thoughts on the issue of antique works of art with less than 10% ivory volume.
I have an inlaid box where I believe the ivory content is less than 10% and have measured the inlay to come to this conclusion but I am of course not 100% positive. I asked the people at DEFRA who were of no help whatsoever, stating it was ‘up to me’ to work it out.
As it stands, if I declare an object as having less than 10% ivory, sell it and then someone else states it has 11% ivory content, for example, I would lose the sale and might well find myself in hot water with DEFRA also.
I have asked DEFRA if there is a professional body/agreed procedure to quantify ivory content, but an answer there came none…
William Edwards
Simon Ray, Indian & Islamic Works of Art
King Street, St James’s, London
