Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

Mark · 20th April 2005, 02:22 PM

I have heard one real horror story about customs, from Manoucher. He had an antique jambya (I believe) sent into Germany and it was confiscated by customs because it did not have a certification as a bona fide antique. I believe the issue was more the handle material than the knife itself. He ended up in a Catch-22 situation where German customs would not release th item without certification, would not accept after-the-fact certification from either the seller or an outside expert, and would not permit the item to be sent back to the seller.

This is an example of strict adherence to the law. CITES requires that certification accompany the piece, and prohibits import, export, or transport of covered items. So, without accompanying papers customs would not allow it out of their control, and without papers they would not permit it to be shipped out of the country. I never heard whether or not he managed to work it out, but my guess is that the jambya is sitting in a warehouse somewhere in Franfurt.

I am in the process of obtaining import/export permits for some ivory handles pieces, and I will let everyone know how it goes and what wsa sufficient supporting evidence, at least for the U.S. authorities.

20th April 2005, 02:22 PM	#21
Mark Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 987	I have heard one real horror story about customs, from Manoucher. He had an antique jambya (I believe) sent into Germany and it was confiscated by customs because it did not have a certification as a bona fide antique. I believe the issue was more the handle material than the knife itself. He ended up in a Catch-22 situation where German customs would not release th item without certification, would not accept after-the-fact certification from either the seller or an outside expert, and would not permit the item to be sent back to the seller. This is an example of strict adherence to the law. CITES requires that certification accompany the piece, and prohibits import, export, or transport of covered items. So, without accompanying papers customs would not allow it out of their control, and without papers they would not permit it to be shipped out of the country. I never heard whether or not he managed to work it out, but my guess is that the jambya is sitting in a warehouse somewhere in Franfurt. I am in the process of obtaining import/export permits for some ivory handles pieces, and I will let everyone know how it goes and what wsa sufficient supporting evidence, at least for the U.S. authorities.