How much is real ivory carvings worth?
The price currently paid for raw ivory is between $597 per kg and $689 per kg. Meanwhile, a single pound of ivory can sell for $3,300 and $200 an ounce.
Can I sell an ivory figurine?
It is now illegal to sell or have the intent to sell ANY IVORY within the State of California or to sell it to any bidders within the State of California REGARDLESS OF THE AGE of the ivory.
Are ivory carvings valuable?
It has no intrinsic value, but its cultural uses make ivory highly prized. In Africa, it has been a status symbol for millennia because it comes from elephants, a highly respected animal, and because it is fairly easy to carve into works of art.
Is antique ivory valuable?
The value of antique ivory held in the U.S. is unclear. One survey of ivory dealers and collectors placed it at nearly $12 billion, but the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which regulates the U.S. ivory trade, says it's less than one percent of that—about $100 million.
How can you tell how old ivory is?
in Boston, described an age-old test that ivory lovers have used to distinguish their ivory from plastic pretenders. The test consists of heating up the point of a needle until it's red-hot and then pricking what you believe is your ivory carving.
Who buys ivory carvings?
GlobeScan spent eight months conducting surveys, in-depth interviews, and focus groups in the five countries in which demand for ivory is known to be concentrated: China, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, and the United States.
How old does ivory have to be to sell it?
Items must contain no more than 200 grams of ivory. Items that are at least 100 years old are exempt, but you must be able to provide proof of age. The ivory in the item comes fully or partially from an animal on the Endangered Species Act list (ESA).
How can I tell if my figurine is ivory?
The test consists of heating up the point of a needle until it's red-hot and then pricking what you believe is your ivory carving. If the needle goes in, it's plastic; if not, it's probably ivory, or at least bone.
Does real ivory turn yellow?
Ivory and bone may develop an attractive brownish yellow "patina" over the years. This is the result of a natural aging process and, as there is rarely any aesthetic reason for trying to whiten the artifact, no attempt should be made to remove this patina.
What can I do with old carved ivory?
“There are still ways to recover economic value from your ivory under the law. You could donate it to a museum and potentially get a tax benefit, for example.” The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also encourages donations to help raise awareness of the illicit trade.
Can you sell antique ivory on eBay?
Due to the unique nature of eBay's global online marketplace and the complexity surrounding the sale of ivory, we will be rolling out a complete ban of the sale of ivory on eBay. We feel this is the best way to protect the endangered and protected species from which a significant portion of ivory products are derived.