Ivory Experts consists of a group of art historians and appraisers with many years of experience researching famous ivory carvers, authenticating their works, dating ivory pieces, and appraising their value.

Federal Ivory Regulations

A crucial question today when considering selling, buying, or shipping ivory to another state or country is: When was it carved? The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was signed in 1973 and entered into force on July 1, 1975, with the United States serving as an original signatory. On January 18, 1990, the African elephant was placed on Appendix I of CITES, which imposed the strictest trade restrictions and effectively prohibited most international commercial trade in African elephant ivory. On July 6, 2016, a near-total ban on commercial trade in African elephant ivory went into effect in the United States.

Important

Federal law imposes an absolute ban on the sale of raw ivory, including raw tusks, across state lines.
It is also generally unlawful to sell elephant ivory tusks, even when those tusks were personally and legally hunted.
Several states maintain regulations that are more restrictive than federal law.

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STATES WITH ADDITIONAL IVORY RESTRICTIONS

• California: In addition to elephant ivory, rhinoceros horn and mammoth ivory are prohibited.
• District of Columbia: Restrictions apply to both rhinoceros horn and ivory.
• Hawai‘i: Regulations include elephant ivory, walrus ivory, and mammoth ivory.
• Illinois: Restrictions apply to both ivory and rhinoceros horn.
• New Hampshire: Elephant ivory is regulated, with a limited exception for de minimis ivory in firearms and knives.
• New Jersey: Regulations apply to both elephant ivory and mammoth ivory.
• New York: Antique ivory exceptions exist; otherwise, there is a near-total ban on elephant ivory and mammoth ivory.
• Nevada: Elephant ivory, walrus ivory, and mammoth ivory are specifically referenced in the statute.
• Oregon: Regulations apply to elephant ivory, rhinoceros horn, and other protected mammals listed in the statute.
• Vermont: Restrictions apply to elephant ivory and rhinoceros horn.
• Washington State: Elephant ivory, rhinoceros horn, and other protected mammal materials are prohibited for sale.

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IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING INTERSTATE SALES

The sale of African elephant ivory items across state lines (interstate commerce) is prohibited except for items that qualify as ESA antiques.