The Vested Dancer by Chiparus, £7000 at Cheffins.
Even those pieces that qualify for the de minimis exemption (containing less than 10% ivory) have been sharply marked down as the chance of exporting them across geographic borders disappears.
The Demetre Chiparus (1886-1947) figure The Vested Dancer from c.1925 is one that routinely sold at auction for £20,000-30,000 a decade ago. The example offered at Cheffins (24.5% buyer’s premium) in Cambridge on May 25 came with what today is a realistic estimate of £5000-8000.
It sold at £7000.
