Dating Ivories

[JIMBOB]

Does anyone know how to determine where the ivories on an 80 year old piano may have originated ? Is there a way to test the ivory to determine if it came from Africa or Asia ? Would some one have records indicating the origin of the ivory ?

[Barrie Heaton]

DNA but it will cost

Barrie,

[Bill Kibby]

I'm fascinated: Even assuming that one tested the DNA of various elephants, and compared the ivory, what would be the purpose?

[JIMBOB]

Apparently there is a restriction on exporting ivory keys if they are less than 100 years old and from Asia. If they are from Africa it is okay. The whole thing makes no sense since the elephants or whatever have been dead 80-100 years. If it was brand new ivory obtained illegally that would be one thing. Someone posted a message on the Pianoworld forum stating they are having a problem trying to sell a Haines Bros piano to someone in another country outside of the US.

[Bill Kibby]

Yes, it would be great if people waited until the elephants were dead to take the ivory, but like yopu, I can't see the point of legislation about the product of elephants that died a hundred years ago. I have come across the problem with antique pianos before, and the only way to export them was to remove the ivory, which (of course) destroys the authenticity. I had no idea that some bureaucrat had made this inane distinction between asian and african ivory!

[JIMBOB]

The person looking to export the piano did some research and found out that there is no way to distinguish between African or Asian ivory. How this is determined at customs I have no idea. There is also the question about putting an exact age on a piano. Serial number records are often incomplete and almost all of the companies that made pianos 80- 100 year ago are long gone.The government should be more worried about the exporting of jobs than the exporting of ivory

[Bill Kibby]

Although DNA would theoretically be possible, I doubt if anyone has an elephant database to work with. As for dating pianos, it's something I spend a lot of time on, and you can find some help at the following links:

http://www.uk-piano.org/piano-gen/piano ... mbers.html

http://www.uk-piano.org/piano-gen/datem ... ianos.html