Piano Guidance
Photo by Meruyert Gonullu Pexels Logo Photo: Meruyert Gonullu

Is it legal to sell or buy ivory?

State Ivory Bans Ivory sales are also banned in several states, such as California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Washington and New York.

How do skinny people jump high?
How do skinny people jump high?

Lighter, leaner people tend to jump higher because they can create more velocity and more force relative to their body weight, So, you can be as...

Read More »
What is the most common chord progression of the blues?
What is the most common chord progression of the blues?

I-IV-V progression The primary harmonic structure of the blues is the I-IV-V progression, which derived from church music of the South. Unlike most...

Read More »
Join almost HALF A MILLION Happy Students Worldwide
Join almost HALF A MILLION Happy Students Worldwide

Pianoforall is one of the most popular online piano courses online and has helped over 450,000 students around the world achieve their dream of playing beautiful piano for over a decade.

Learn More »

Selling antique ivory can be a problem due to strict regulations regarding the import and sale of ivory, particularly elephant ivory. While it may seem inconvenient to be unable to sell ivory antiques, recent regulations at the state and federal level are designed to reduce the killing of elephants and keep them from becoming an endangered species. De Minimis Exemption In addition to the ESA antiques exemption, there is also a De Minimis Exemption related to African elephant ivory. This exemption does not involve ivory from Asian elephants. In order to qualify under this exemption the item must be made only partially from ivory and meet these other criteria: Already have been in the U.S.A., arriving before the date of January 18, 1990, or has a certification exemption from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The CITES certification must be shown prior to sale and given to the buyer as part of the sale. Items not kept in the U.S. must have documented proof they were created prior to February 26, 1976. The item must be part of a manufactured piece, such as a musical instrument or jewelry. It cannot be raw ivory taken from an animal. There must be less than 200 grams of ivory in the item and it must have been manufactured prior to July 6, 2016. The ivory must be a small part of the overall value of the item and the ivory's value cannot exceed 50% of the item's value. State Ivory Bans Ivory sales are also banned in several states, such as California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Washington and New York. Some of these laws are even stricter than the federal regulations, such as the law in Hawaii that bans sales of anything made from elephant ivory, rhinoceros horn as well as items made from other parts of animals such as walruses, seals, sharks and tigers. Interstate sales of ivory items is also prohibited in the U.S. for sport trophies and ivory items that were brought into the U.S. as part of a scientific research project or law enforcement investigation. Difficulties With Selling Antique Ivory One of the difficulties with selling antique ivory that fits the exemption criteria is proving that it's at least a century old. As a result, the 2016 law has reportedly led to a loss that can be anywhere from $100 million to $11.9 billion for antique ivory collectors and dealers. While it's legal to sell items that are older, the problem is establishing that they have existed for a century or more. Owners may not have any paperwork proving the age of the items they own and appraisers note that the testing process is expensive and may make it impossible to sell an item once the cost is factored into the price. When selling antique ivory pieces, do not mislabel, misrepresent, or make oblique references to "material not allowed" because that is illegal. Additionally, it also goes against many website policies, including eBay. Age Documentation for Selling Antique Ivory Ideally if you own antique ivory pieces that you wish to sell you will already have something in writing that can prove the age of the item. These could be: Receipts for purchase

What are the six types of voice?
What are the six types of voice?

A selection of singers share their skills from the lowest voice type to the highest, demonstrating the power of the bass, baritone, tenor, mezzo-...

Read More »
What scale is best for blues?
What scale is best for blues?

A combination of the Mixolydian mode and the blues scale, the Mixolydian/blues hybrid scale reigns supreme as the chief source for carving those...

Read More »

Letters detailing receipt of the item if it was a gift or delivered to you Documentation proving it was in the family for over a century, such as a description of the item in a will or prior estate sale Photos of the item that are clearly dated You can also hire an appraiser to review your item and provide a professional opinion on the age of the item. If you do, make sure they are an accepted appraiser by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which administers the federal regulations. Selling Ivory Online If you are interested in selling your ivory via a website, such as selling ivory on eBay, you must follow the same rules as in-person sales. Each website also has their own policies to review to make sure your sale is allowed. For example, eBay does not allow the sale of any ivory items. There are some platforms that will allow for sale but have strict regulations and requirements for documentation.

Why do grades skip E?
Why do grades skip E?

In the 1930s, as the letter-based grading system grew more and more popular, many schools began omitting E in fear that students and parents may...

Read More »
Is piano good for brain?
Is piano good for brain?

Adults who learn to play piano experience a decrease in depression, fatigue, and anxiety and an increase in memory, verbal communication, and a...

Read More »
How many scales should I practice a day?
How many scales should I practice a day?

It is my opinion that all serious pianists should spend at least 5-20 minutes a day on scales. You can practice them more or less, this is just my...

Read More »
What notes are in each key?
What notes are in each key?

Piano Major Scales C Major. Notes: C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C. Fingering (LH): 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 3, 2, 1. ... E Major. Notes: E, F#, G#, A, B, C#, D#, E....

Read More »