Can i sell Ivory in the uk?

Question

Both My grandparents have now moved on and left me with alot of ivory items from when they lived in africa i want to sell it because it makes me cringe how do i sell it in the uk.

there are no certificate either.

Answer 1

It depends on the age of the ivory and if you can prove it came into the country before the ban.  You should take it to a reputable auction house and they will advise you.  Perhaps you could sell it and give proceeds to an elephant chrity?

Answer 2

You can't i don't think, it's illegal..

Answer 3

im sure you cant sell it. i dont know if items like that can be confiscated from you. If i were you i would check out specialised sites on the internet and if you can cal up some antique dealers in your area. But im sure that most people dont touch the stuff.

i just found this:

http://www.wwf.org.uk/news/n_0000003163....

hmmm you could contact wwf? and see what they have to say, its not as if you got the items intentionally.

Answer 4

It all depends on the age of the items,

Under UK law, only ivory carvings dated before 1947 can be sold and these must be sold with proof of age documents.

http://www.ifaw.org/ifaw/general/default...

Answer 5

No, not officially. The trade in Ivory Is quite rightly banned. But there is a black market  about which I know nothing .

Answer 6

I saw an antique box with ivory panels being sold on either "Flog It "or "Cash in the Attic" on TV recently.

I don't know if it was certificated, but it was dated by an expert to show that it was produced before the ivory hunting trade was banned.

If your pieces are old, I don't see why an auction house could not date them, value them and sell them for you. Ask them - they are the experts after all.