Many of my customers have built up quite substantial collections and ivory, particularly that carved in Dieppe in the early 19th century, forms a significant part.
Are they to suddenly find their collections, in which they have invested considerable amounts of money, are now worthless? What compensation has the government earmarked for them, and dealers like myself, who sell currently legal (pre-1947 and mostly pre-1847!) ivory?
How can it be legal under these proposals to be able to sell, for example, a 1920s silver teapot with an ivory finial, yet a tiny Dieppe carved pincushion of similar size from 1800 would be illegal?
Thanks to ATG for its useful Q&A but at this juncture there are still too many unanswered questions.
Sylvie Collett
