Proposed rules would ban sale, donation of ivory
An heirloom bronze elephant with ivory tusks, greatgrandmother’s piano with ivory keys, a vintage ivory chess set or an antique silver teapot with a small ivory inset in the handle might be “endangered” by proposed regulations that could be in place this month.
Buying, selling or importing ivory from recently killed African elephants has been illegal for about 25 years. But an executive order issued by President Barack Obama would extend the ban to include all antique ivory harvested from elephants that died before 1914. Sales and even gifts to museums of any ivory, including antique pieces, would be forbidden.
This would affect antiques dealers and collectors, knife makers and collectors, Inuit craftsmen, owners of mahjongg and chess sets, and manufacturers of musical instruments such as guitars and violins — and the list could go on.
Those in favor of strong endangered-species laws also want all confiscated antique carved ivory art to be destroyed — not even given to a museum. Thousands of pounds of ivory art objects have already been destroyed. This will cause huge losses to companies, collectors and museums.
There is still time to contact your U.S. senator, representative or the Fish & Wildlife Service to make your thoughts known. For further details, visit www.kovels.com/latest-news/ new-ivory-ban.html.
Q: My bedroom suite includes a chest of drawers and a dresser made of light wood, both marked “Birchcraft by Baumritter.” Does the suite have any value other than as used furniture?
A: Baumritter Corp. was founded by Theodore Baumritter and his brother-in-law, Nathan Ancell, in 1932 in New York. The company sold housewares.
They bought a furniture company in Beecher Falls, Vt., in 1936. The company introduced a 28-piece line of Ethan Allen furniture, named after the Revolutionary War hero, in 1939. The name of the company became Ethan Allen Industries in 1972.
Furniture with modern styling and light color is bought by those wanting a ’50s look and sells for a little more than other used furniture.
Current prices
Prices are recorded from antiques shows, flea markets, sales and auctions throughout the United States.
Rookwood bookends, owl, standing on book, taupe glaze, impressed, 1930s, 6 inches by 33⁄ inches, $185. 4
Humidor, Bock Havana 50, figural black and tan dog pulling sled, multicolor, circa 1900, 10 inches, $210.
Barber bottle, coral reef, opalescent, square, tapered, circa 1900, 8 inches by 21⁄ inches, $260. 2
Fishing tackle box, mahogany, brass, two fitted drawers, Abercrombie & Fitch, circa 1950, 81⁄ inches by 20 inches,
2 $440.
Scandinavian Modern chair, swivel, aluminum, upholstery, Carl Eric Klote, 1960s, 27 inches by 30 inches, pair, $485.
Terry and Kim Kovel, authorities on collectibles, write for King Features Syndicate. Write to them in care of The Dispatch, King Features Syndicate, 300 W. 57th St., New York, NY 10019. Or visit www.kovels.com.