Our Clan piper is an extremely talented young woman. She is a multi-instrumentalist who started to study bagpipes about 6 years ago. She has achieved grade one status this year and will be competing at the worlds this summer. She and her mom do volunteer work with Vets and she is there to pipe them in at the airport when they return from deployment or for memorial services. The old adage " good things happen to good people " definitely applies to her. Recently a family of a WWII Vet who met her was so impressed that they gifted her their late father's 1940s era Robertson pipes. I thought how perfect that a piper for Clan Donnachaidh should receive a set of vintage Robertson pipes. I heard her play them this past weekend at our Clan dinner and it was fantastic.

Talking with her later in the evening I found that they have a possible dilemma. The pipes almost certainly have ivory on the drones. I'm not positive but it does look like it. The family had no paperwork with the pipes so it may be impossible verify their age making it impossible to travel abroad with them without said papers. Does anyone know of a possible solution to this situation? I'm wondering if there was a process to acquire paperwork for them.

Jim McGillivray of Canada may be of some assistance to you -- http://www.piping.on.ca/

Having worked with CITES in the past I can tell you she might need a musical instrument passport. Not sure how she'd acquire one in the States - maybe the FWS?

Steve, we may need some more help here, particularly for those of us who are merely interested observers. You're in the United Kingdom and BluesCelt is in the United States. Do you both really know what "CITES" and "FWS" are? This interested observer sure doesn't. :)

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. Fish and Wildlife Service.

I have to deal with USF&W quite often, although not face to face, and not with something as protected as Ivory.

In my experience they tend to be efficient and helpful- but your piper will need to have their documents in order.
Here are two links with some more info and further linking that might be helpful getting her ducks in a row.
http://www.artsjournal.com/slippeddi...g-the-usa.html
http://www.artsjournal.com/slippeddi...o-the-usa.html

:pith:

Thanks all. I will pass on this info and hopefully she can sort out before the international competitions.

There was a big discussion (blowup?!?) on the Dunsire forum about this just recently.

http://forums.bobdunsire.com/forums/...d.php?t=154870

The most important/relevant posts are on page 3 and page 4 by Mike F and Michael New.

In summary, for those not involved in travelling with/buying/selling pipes/musical instruments with ivory, the US has passed legislation that severely restricts any commerce involving ivory. From what I can gather, the way the legislation is worded, anyone selling/transporting anything with ivory must have documented proof of the age of the ivory (pre-ban, circa 1974 ? ).

This is problematic for a lot of musical instruments, especially those that have changed hands several times over the years (not just bagpipes, but other woodwinds, and even pianos). With bagpipes, the maker/style can be documented for age by experts, but the mounts (the 'decorative' bits - that actually have some functionality, though not to the playing of the instrument) could have been added later, though quite often they're concurrent with the original manufacture.

This has repercussions on the sale of inherited instruments as well - what does one do with Granny's antique piano with the ivory keys when the original sales receipt is lost?


For the OP, it might be worthwhile for the young lady to purchase/borrow a set of non-ivory pipes for traveling with, if she doesn't have such a set already. Somewhat costly, yes, but in the short term it alleviates the hassle of having to rush to get all of the appropriate paperwork ready before August. It's also my understanding that there needs to be paperwork for both sides of the 'line' - papers for getting the pipes out and back into the US, PLUS papers from the UK to get the pipes in and back out of the UK.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ordway

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. Fish and Wildlife Service.

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Those are they.

I have to agree with EagleJCS. We live in a crazy age. Don't risk it. If there were a dispute in an airport the chance of permanent damage being done by an over-zealous inspector could be very regrettable.