# Is there a legal way to acquire Ivory for private use? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 6, 2009, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-legal-way-to-acquire-ivory-for-private-use/488517 "2009-03-06T13:44:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-legal-way-to-acquire-ivory-for-private-use/488517/1 "2009-03-06T13:44:00Z")
[This thread here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=508530) on the disposal of large, dead animals included a side-question as to whether or not Ivory could be salvaged from an Elephant that had died in a Zoo. Apparently there’s a treaty that prevents people from buying and selling Ivory on the open market- so you can’t go to Alan’s Chateaux d’Ivoire and stock up on Ivory piano keys, pistol grips, and cutlery handles. So, this got me wondering: is there a legal way for a private individual to acquire Ivory for private use, say, restoring an antique piano or cutlery set or something like that? ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-legal-way-to-acquire-ivory-for-private-use/488517/2 "2009-03-06T13:52:50Z")
Laws vary from country to country, but there’s generally exemptions for antique ivory, so it can be salvaged from defunct pianos, for instance. In any case, it’s not always impossible to buy new ivory illegally, even if there might be legal problems importing it to your country of choice - [The Latest News from the UK and Around the World | Sky News](http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Africa-Ivory-Auction-First-Legal-Sale-In-Decade-As-Elephant-Tusks-Sold-To-China-And-Japan/Article/200810415130369) ---
**Author:** ![Jormungandr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@Jormungandr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jormungandr)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-legal-way-to-acquire-ivory-for-private-use/488517/3 "2009-03-06T15:23:52Z")
You might find some in Japan as there was an ivory auction in Nambia in October 2008 ([Controversial legal ivory sale raises $1.2M - CNN.com](http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/10/28/ivory.auction/index.html)). Whether you would be allowed to bring it into the U.S is another question. There were pieces on Ebay, but they’ve banned the sale of them. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-legal-way-to-acquire-ivory-for-private-use/488517/4 "2009-03-06T15:28:12Z")
Check the soap aisle at your local store. 🙂 Well, somebody was bound to say it. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-legal-way-to-acquire-ivory-for-private-use/488517/5 "2009-03-06T15:37:04Z")
A good friend of mine is a Scrimshander. I can email him and see where he gets his stuff if you are interested. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-legal-way-to-acquire-ivory-for-private-use/488517/6 "2009-03-06T15:42:19Z")
Scrimshanders work with whale ivory; I think the OP is asking about elephant ivory. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-legal-way-to-acquire-ivory-for-private-use/488517/7 "2009-03-06T15:43:23Z")
You can acquire walrus tusk ivory by salvaging it on the beaches up here. It has to be reported to the fur and feathers people, but you are allowed to keep it and do what you want with it for personal use. You just can’t sell it unless you are an Alaska Native. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-legal-way-to-acquire-ivory-for-private-use/488517/8 "2009-03-06T15:47:43Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Scrimshanders work with whale ivory; I think the OP is asking about elephant ivory. I don’t think sperm whale ivory is all that common for scrimshaw work (I could be wrong). Most up here work with walrus tusk. You also find mammoth tusk pieces. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-legal-way-to-acquire-ivory-for-private-use/488517/9 "2009-03-06T16:12:43Z")
Oh I’m well aware of what scrimshanders work with [beautiful stuff] and the craft definitely started with our whaling brethren but it’s morphed into working with all kinds of bone no? The guy I know who has a shop in my town works with all different kinds of bones, he’s got some walrus tusk - but **Chefguy’s** mention of mammoth tusk pieces is fascinating. Can you really find the strewn areound up there, or are they like arrowhead down here, where you have to really keep your eyes peeled? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-legal-way-to-acquire-ivory-for-private-use/488517/10 "2009-03-06T16:58:20Z")
I saw a Narwhal tusk on display at a local factory/museum. Is that regulated heavily? ---
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-legal-way-to-acquire-ivory-for-private-use/488517/11 "2009-03-06T23:36:14Z")
You can leagally buy ivory from Mammoth tusks, (they are well past being endangered!) expensive, and make sure you hang on to the documentation. There is also a particular (palm?) nut that makes a pretty convincing imitation. Google for bagpipe DIY forums for details. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2009, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-legal-way-to-acquire-ivory-for-private-use/488517/12 "2009-03-07T01:59:53Z")
> [@Phlosphr](#): > > Oh I’m well aware of what scrimshanders work with [beautiful stuff] and the craft definitely started with our whaling brethren but it’s morphed into working with all kinds of bone no? The guy I know who has a shop in my town works with all different kinds of bones, he’s got some walrus tusk - but **Chefguy’s** mention of mammoth tusk pieces is fascinating. Can you really find the strewn areound up there, or are they like arrowhead down here, where you have to really keep your eyes peeled? Mammoth tusk finds are not all that uncommon, as this was the migratory route for a long time. I don’t know what the laws are concerning them up here, but I don’t think they’re protected like the walrus tusks are. Jewelry with mammoth pieces in it is common. ---
**Author:** ![wevets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9a140/32.png) [@wevets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wevets)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2009, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-legal-way-to-acquire-ivory-for-private-use/488517/13 "2009-03-07T15:33:39Z")
> [@Mr.Slant](#): > > I saw a Narwhal tusk on display at a local factory/museum. > Is that regulated heavily? I guess that depends on what you mean by heavily regulated. IANAL, but Narwhal artifacts in United States should be covered by the [Marine Mammal Protection Act](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_Mammal_Protection_Act) and [CITES Appendix II](http://www.cites.org/eng/resources/species.html). Trade in narwhal artifacts would, I think, be illegal in the US, although Canada and Denmark treat the narwhal differently. If the narwhal tusk was obtained before 1979, it was likely grandfathered in and shouldn’t have any problems unless the museum wanted to sell it. After 1979, it would have required a permit from Canada or Denmark to export the tusk and a permit from the US Fish and Wildlife or the US National Marine Fisheries Service (I’m not sure which handles importation issues from outside the country) to bring it into the country. I don’t actually know all that much about the legal issues involved. That’s really fascinating about **mammoth** tusks! I had no idea there would be many of them around. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2009, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-legal-way-to-acquire-ivory-for-private-use/488517/14 "2009-03-07T18:35:25Z")
I have heard it claimed, that you can easily distinguish elephant ivory from mammoth ivory under a microscope. So, if the customs agents get suspicious, you just tell them to send it to a laboratory. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2009, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-legal-way-to-acquire-ivory-for-private-use/488517/15 "2009-03-07T23:00:53Z")
> [@wevets](#): > > That’s really fascinating about **mammoth** tusks! I had no idea there would be many of them around. They also dig up the occasional mastodon bits and use them. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2009, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-legal-way-to-acquire-ivory-for-private-use/488517/16 "2009-03-08T00:44:29Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > So, this got me wondering: is there a legal way for a private individual to acquire Ivory for private use…? 'scuse me? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2009, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-legal-way-to-acquire-ivory-for-private-use/488517/17 "2009-03-08T05:07:11Z")
You didn’t specify whether you wanted a piece that you could decorate or one that has already been carved or otherwise decorated. Does anyone know what the law is regarding circulating ivory jewelry that was purchased in the US or brought into the US before it became illegal? ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2009, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-legal-way-to-acquire-ivory-for-private-use/488517/18 "2009-03-08T05:07:48Z")
There was a store in Oregon that sold ivory slices. I have no idea what kind of ivory it was. I was stunned to see it and asked the owner. I can’t remember what he said, but clearly he had no concern over it. ---
**Author:** ![bluezooky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e8c25b/32.png) [@bluezooky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bluezooky)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2009, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-legal-way-to-acquire-ivory-for-private-use/488517/19 "2009-03-08T09:30:29Z")
Plenty of ivory at [www.elephantivorytusks.com](http://www.elephantivorytusks.com) or google “fossil ivory”.