IVORY TAVERNS OF THE PAST, THREATENED BY MODERN TIMES
Marbled pieces of history spread out in glass cases, locked in battle on a checkered crimson-and-white board. A placard declares this set's narrative mirrors the medieval European feudal society's social hierarchy: a king menacing with a sword, a bishop in church regalia.
Impressive isn't merely the exquisite craftsmanship yet the remarkable methods of discovery. Carved from walrus tusks and walrus ivory, these treasures tell a tale of a time long past, possibly crafted around eight centuries ago in Norway. It's probable that they belonged to a merchant's journey, burdened by these sacred trinkets along the trading routes from Scandinavia to Ireland.
The museum prides itself on these artifacts being a "vital element" of its extensive collection, playing a "critical role" in displaying historical achievements. Neil MacGregor, once the Director of the British Museum, included this collection in his 2010 book, A History of the World in 100 Objects.
Ebony, an important player in the age-old production and circulation of valuable furnishings, art, and objects, has faced a significant challenge since the mid-20th century. Greed for ivory has sparked mass hunting of elephants in Africa and Asia, pushing these majestic creatures to the brink of extinction.
As per the British Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs, approximately 145,000 elephants have been ruthlessly hunted solely for their ivory in less than a decade. The International Union for Conservation of Nature estimates that there are only 415,000 African elephants remaining. The rapid decline in their numbers has prompted various countries to revise their ivory trade regulations – not only for raw ivory, but also for antiques.
IVORY WARS: AN INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT
Countries around the globe hold different regulations governing ivory within their borders. In October 2016, the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) members recommended the closure of domestic ivory markets rather than regulation, arguing that banned ivory could too easily be smuggled as legitimate antiquities.
All 183 CITES nations agree that each country "should immediately take all necessary legal, regulatory, and enforcement measures to close its domestic markets for commercial trade in raw and worked ivory."
In 1975, France led the way among European nations in implementing strict ivory trade restrictions. In July 2016, the US introduced a near-total ivory sales ban at a federal level. Hong Kong, a significant retail hub for ivory and a portal for Chinese mainland sales, has declared plans to ban ivory sales within five years. India, too, enacted nearly complete ivory control.
China, once the world's leading ivory market, announced its plans to halt ivory processing and sales for commercial purposes by the end of 2017.
The UK will soon discuss proposed ivory sales bans, scheduled for March, with implementation due in September this year. The proposed ban would cover all items including ivory produced between 1947 and present, while trade in antiques pre-dating 1947 would remain permissible.
In the upcoming months, the government will consult with environmental groups, dealers, and industry experts on the specifics of the ban, a topic that remains contentious.
Environmentalists caution that the post-1947 ban is not adequate, as the UK also serves as a significant transit hub for both legal and illegal ivory sales. They argue that a complete ban would significantly weaken the international illegal ivory trade. They claim that the proposed ban does not address the issue entirely, as the Conservatives had pledged in their last election manifesto.
Antiquities dealers and museums support efforts to protect elephants and curb the illegal trade. However, they maintain that ivory forms an integral part of British cultural heritage and a total ban would penalize dealers and deplete public collections.
On February 6, a gathering of parliamentarians and spectators convened in Westminster to discuss the matter. Over 107,000 individuals have signed an online petition demanding the closure of Britain's ivory market, sufficient to trigger a parliamentary debate.
The meeting carried a sense of deja vu, for parliamentarians had gathered just two months prior to debate similar issues.
Conservative MP Victoria Borwick declared the gathering's significance, as concern for elephants' well-being reverberated through representatives from all parties. Borwick, UK MP for Kensington (home to the Victoria and Albert Museum) and chair of the British Antiques Dealers Association (BADA), expressed concerns about a total ban, stating that museums in her constituency would no longer receive gifts from private collectors, and that antique objects themselves would be affected.
“The complete abolition of the sale of our cultural heritage would mean that items like an 18th-century inlaid tea box would remain neglected in forgotten corners,” she stated in an email.
“We’re not mediocre people”
BADA Secretary-General Mark Dodgson supported the post-1947 ivory ban. Dodgson believes that it's the trade in new 'jewelry-like' ivory pieces – Buddha or elephant carvings – that fuels poaching. He also distinguishes between primitive, often online-sold carvings, and culturally significant art.
"We're not planning to demolish Bristol because of its profits from slavery," he said. "Is it genuinely wrong to think that African elephants could be saved from extinction through the destruction of the ivory trade?"
Environmentalists claim that the sale of ancient British ivory lends legitimacy to the illegal ivory trade. According to the Wildlife Trade Monitoring Network (TRAFFIC) of the World Wildlife Fund, more than 30% of ivory exports from the EU come from the UK, making it a crucial transit country for the illicit ivory trade.
"Despite our feelings about it, our markets are presently involved in elephant ivory trade," said Charlie Mayhew, co-founder and CEO of Tusk, an anti-poaching organization supported by Prince William. "Our main concern is evidence that unscrupulous dealers and traders are exploiting the 1947 rules to sell modern ivory as pre-1947 ivory, even though it's not."
Tusk, alongside other NGOs, has called for a near-total ivory ban similar to the one enacted in the US. This would halt the ivory trade, require the registration, inspection, and certification of legal antiquities and artifacts in a centralized system, and make exceptions for appropriate art.
"We're not attempting to destroy or exclude genuine antiquities," Mayhew said. "In fact, we're not small-minded people."
In December, British legislators faced renewed pressure following China's announcement that it would cease its domestic ivory market by the end of the year.
The UK will host the Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference, an international conference on combating wildlife trade and conservation, next year. Mayhew stated that it would be challenging for the UK to maintain a credible leadership role in wildlife conservation if it does not enforce adequate laws itself.
"If the UK wants to take a leading role in global wildlife conservation, the time has come," he said.
