Marshall & Rose 1935 - what kind of ivory?

[phoyt]

Hi! I recently came into possession of a Marshall and Rose baby grand manufactured in 1935. I need to import it from the US to Canada and so need to submit a CITES application. They are asking what species the ivory keys are from. I don't have physical access to the piano and the technician I sent to look at it for me wasn't sure.

Does someone know what species of elephant would have been made from? The authorities want me to narrow it down to African Elephant or Asian. I presume african elephant, but that's just a guess.

Thanks in advance.

[Bill Kibby]

My understanding is that ivory pre-1947 is exempt from export problems, but I can't imagine how anyone could ever tell you what sort of elephant it was, unless you DNA test it! I have never heard of Indian elephants being used, but I expect they were. You should be able to get the date of the piano from its serial number. How strange that they should expect this of you!

[phoyt]

Even pre-1970-something I should be able to import it, and I also thought the precise species shouldn't matter. But I put in the application for a permit and just got a call about it today from the US dept of Fish and Wildlife. I'm pretty sure it's African Elephant, just thought I'd see if anyone has specific knowledge of this. The serial number is 35xxx by the way.

[Bill Kibby]

As explained on my website, this is one of the examples where the numbering is not only a thousand per year, the first 2 digits represent the year.

[Bill Kibby]

It occurs to me that we are assuming the keys are ivory, but as you have not seen them, can we be sure? Many pianos have synthetic coverings, and this would solve your problem.

[phoyt]

I asked a technician to look at it, and he submitted documents requested by the people who issue these permits in the US stating the age, and that the keys had not been repaired using ivory post 1970-something. He verified that they are ivory. I've had a few other people also tell me the keys are ivory. I would have no idea myself.