ivory prices?

ratcues

ratcues

Theewen Custom Cues
Silver Member
What is the going rate of unprocessed ivory? The reason I ask is that a guy, from my hometown, called me out of the blue and said he has a solid ivory Budda statue his dad brought to the states back in the 50's. He has no use and thought I could use it for cues. He said it is something like 6"x6"x3" He estimates 3lbs but from his measurements, I doubt it weighs that much. He was supposed to send pics but I haven't seen them yet. I just wanted to get a feel for what it may be worth. I don't need it but for the right price, I may buy it.
 
ratcues said:
What is the going rate of unprocessed ivory? The reason I ask is that a guy, from my hometown, called me out of the blue and said he has a solid ivory Budda statue his dad brought to the states back in the 50's. He has no use and thought I could use it for cues. He said it is something like 6"x6"x3" He estimates 3lbs but from his measurements, I doubt it weighs that much. He was supposed to send pics but I haven't seen them yet. I just wanted to get a feel for what it may be worth. I don't need it but for the right price, I may buy it.
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The last I heard Ivory was selling for $200 a pound...JER
 
I have found most carved ivory pieces to be worth more as art than cue parts. It ofcourse depends on the piece but look out for invisable surface cracks that will reduce the usable portion of the piece. As for unprocessed ivory prices I have been offered anywhere from $180-300 per pound within the last year. I would guess $200 plus for any smaller tusk sections. The $180 was for a 14lb piece. Chris.
 
I had the exact situation, and statue so to speak, He brought it over, and I saw the little fat guy and couldn't do him any harm, I mean It's buddha for god sakes;) in his teachings he teaches, calm, mellow, even flowing, be as one with the earth, so I gave my buddy $100 or $200 bucks and now he watches over me and my family, don't have to feed or clean up after him, I give him a good dusting now and then, but he's been no trouble what so ever.

Don't Cut him up, not only are you destroying art, not only is it cheaper to just buy the Ivory parts(depending on the price of the statue)

IT'S BAD KARMA.

Just my 10 cents worth,

Ryan See you at the Midwest, come over and introduce yourself.

Bryan Fisher
Fisher Cues
www.Fishercues.com
 
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ratcues said:
What is the going rate of unprocessed ivory? The reason I ask is that a guy, from my hometown, called me out of the blue and said he has a solid ivory Budda statue his dad brought to the states back in the 50's. He has no use and thought I could use it for cues. He said it is something like 6"x6"x3" He estimates 3lbs but from his measurements, I doubt it weighs that much. He was supposed to send pics but I haven't seen them yet. I just wanted to get a feel for what it may be worth. I don't need it but for the right price, I may buy it.
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Keep in mind Ryan, Ivory has different density, thus different weight. Size really is not a good way to judge the weight of Ivory. I addition you also must determine how much of the statue will be waste do to it's current use. Normally, I buy Tusks for this reason. I think it just makes it easier to cut it into usable piece's with practice.

Oh and by the way, and please do not take this as a joke, I would not touch a Buddhist statue for anything. My wife is South Korean and she is a Buddhist. By that religion the only people who can handle items like the one you are speaking about are Buddhist Priests. The items are cursed, and from the back ground you gave above it could have come back from the Korean War. In fact I lived in South Korea for 6 years, and I have never seen a solid Ivory Buddha outside of a temple.

Good Luck Ryan!!!!!!!!
 
i guess you got more out of this thread then you expected. truth is just on rough math and not seeing the statue you may only get 8-10 ivory ferrules out of it. if you spend 150$ on it for example its not really worth your time and effort

religion thing aside
 
My wife informed me that KARMA comes from the Hindu religion, not buddhism. Oh well. My bad.

Still KARMA

Ryan, I'm in no way attacking you for thinking about it, I had the thought aswell until I actualy saw the statue, It just wouldn't be worth it as far as price and the yield you'd get from it,

I'm just having alittle fun with the KARMA thing, Hope you get that from my tone. What ever you do is your buisness. Just having fun.

Bryan Fisher
Fisher Cues
 
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Honestly, I don't think I would have cut it up anyway. I'd like having it watch over the shop even though I am a Christian. I agree that, religion aside, it is art that someone spent time creating. I wouldn't want someone to cut up my cue just to get a forearm. I just needed a number to give the guy so we have a starting place for the negotiations.
 
I found that almost all carved Ivory gives such a small yield in usable cue parts that you can get more for it whole selling it on ebay than you can get cutting it up. About the only exception is those tusks that are carved just around a few inches of the hollow end. I think those were carved to make them sell as worked ivory and legal to export from certain countries before the ban. The hollow is just about useless for cue parts anyway and you can save the carved section and have a nice little shelf display once you cut the large part of the tusk up.
 
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