Some items we offer for sale incorporate or are made from antique elephant ivory. We are firmly against and deplore the illegal poaching of elephants. Still, it is important to understand that any antique items made from ivory offered for sale by us were created in the 19th century or earlier. At that time, ivory was a widely available material. African and Asian elephants then existed in such large numbers that their survival in the wild was not threatened. Since ancient times, ivory has been used by craftsmen as a desirable material which can be cut, carved or etched. Ivory has been used for hundreds of years to create historically and religiously significant works of art, as well as many objects of a more utilitarian nature. The value of all these objects lies in the craftsmanship applied to their creation and not in the ivory material itself.

Genuine antiques containing worked ivory can be legally sold in the UK if they comprise less than 10 per cent ivory by volume and have been registered with Defra or if they have ​been granted an exemption certificate as being of extremely high artistic, cultural or historical value. Depending on the proportion of ivory they contain all items made from ivory that we sell have either been registered with Defra or granted an exemption certificate. Should you wish to take antiques containing ivory to a country outside of the UK, ​please advise us about this before making your purchase since different countries operate widely differing restrictions, and it ​may be necessary to obtain CITES permits in advance of shipment. This is a straightforward process with which we will be happy to assist.