Experts battle Duke on ivory

THE British Museum has opposed a call by the Duke of Cambridge for a total ban on ivory trading, arguing that it would harm its collection of “indispensable” treasures.

The Government is considering a UK ban on the sale or movement of all carved ivory objects, regardless of their age. Current laws only affect objects made after 1947.

The Duke of Cambridge, as patron of Tusk, a charity campaigning to end the ivory trade, is a vocal supporter of a ban. He reportedly even said he would like to see all the ivory in the Royal Collection “destroyed”. But ahead of a pub- lic consultation on the issue, the British Museum, the V&A and some of the nation’s most prominent historians and antiques experts expressed concerns that a change to the law could damage Britain’s cultural heritage.

The British Museum collection includes the 3,000-year-old Nimrud Ivories, excavated in Iraq in the mid20th century and acquired in 2011, and the Benin Ivories, which date back to the 15th and 16th centuries.

Artefacts made from ivory “are integral parts of the collection and play an indispensable part in the museum’s presentation of the history of human cultural achievement,” a spokesman told the Antiques Trade Gazette. “The

British Museum supports any efforts to protect elephants in Africa and Asia and to curb the illegal trade and export of ivory, but we are also clear that this should not include antique ivory works of art.

“There is no public benefit in restricting the display or movement of ivory works of art made before 1947 and legislation should not extend to cover actions carried out before that date.”

The V&A said in a statement: “Whilst the V&A is not actively seeking to collect early 20th-century ivory, the museum will consider acquiring objects dating prior to 1947 featuring or made from ivory, where there is a strong link to the collection and within relevant regulations and guidelines.”

The Royal Collection confirmed that “as with any historical collection of its size and age”, it includes ivory objects. However, it refused to be drawn into the debate. The Duke told an audience of conservationists that a total ban would “send a clear signal that trading in ivory is abhorrent”.

Jane Goodall, a primatologist, claimed in 2014 that the Duke had told her he “would like to see all the ivory owned by Buckingham Palace destroyed”. The Royal Collection includes an ivory throne given to Queen Victoria by the Maharajah of Travancore.

David Starkey, the historian, said it would be an act of “cultural vandalism” to cease the trade of antiquities. “If these objects cease to be tradeable they lose their value and will end up being destroyed,” he said.

A third of the African elephant population has been wiped out since 2007.