A small 12th-century ivory carving is currently the subject of an acquisition battle between two art world giants, The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and London’s Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A). Both museums are vying for ownership of the exquisite sculpture, which has been on loan to the V&A since 1982.
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A South London pair have been jailed for illegally selling antique ivory fans worth £145,259 on eBay. Continue reading
In 2017 Art Law & More reported on the Government’s consultation on whether or not to roll out an outright ban on trading in worked ivory of all ages (see Government confronts the elephant in the room with ivory ban plan). Following the consultation, the Ivory Bill was introduced on 23 May 2018. The Government has reported that it “rapidly cleared Parliamentary processes, with support from across the House.” It is expected to come into force in late 2019. Continue reading
A campaign by the Duke of Cambridge to enforce a total ban on the ivory trade has been met by a wave of opposition from prominent UK museums, historians and antiques experts.
Current legislation prohibits the sale of ivory items carved after 1947. Now government ministers are considering proposals to extend the ban on the ivory trade to objects over 70 years old. Continue reading
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