MADAM – We are all devastated at what is being proposed by the government in relation to ivory.
We antique dealers buy and sell articles which were mainly made over the last 200 years. As I walk around my warehouse, I see George III ivory and silver tea caddies from the 1780s, ivory billiard and bagatelle balls from 1800-80, toilet sets with ivory handles from 1900, a few boxed sets of cutlery with ivory handles from the 1870s and finally, beautiful silver tea sets with ivory handles on the kettles and tea pots, from 1800-1900.
If what environment minister Michael Gove is proposing becomes law, none of the above could be sold in the trade and they will become valueless, useless and probably end up on the black market.