I agree Writer! Maybe a horse person on the forum would be ecstatic to have them!

Could you donate them to a small local museum? Or ... someplace like Trundle Manor, perhaps? (I'm being serious about the latter suggestion!)

http://trundlemanor.com/

Thanks, Holly-Kay. For sure if anyone here wants them, I'd be happy to send them. I'll try to get a photo tomorrow. No time to climb up and root around for the box this afternoon.

We certainly have some quirky local museums, TR, but the one that would have been the best choice has gone all upscale and audio-animatronic and no longer takes or displays odd bits of local history. (Can you tell I liked them better before the big grant for the fancy new building?) But I'll definitely keep Trundle Manor in mind.

I would check with a local antique dealer .

I think if they can be dated

it is OK to sell.

I'm still a horse crazy girl (have 5 in the back yard) You can send them to me!

I promise to give them a forever home. I collect white horses-figurines. I did have my two real grays until last year but they have both crossed the rainbow bridge.

I would take them, too, as I like Asian art and would happily pay the shipping costs.

Thanks, missymoo and Fun2B. I'll post some pics tomorrow and you can see what you think.

Okay, thank you.

It is not illegal to sell them, but there are rules - HERE.

Put me as potential forever home #3 if the others change their mind. I'm down to 2 live ones.

I didn't read the whole of Allisons attached article but it appears to speak of African Ivory.

Speak to an Antique Dealer in your state dealing with Chinese Ivory.

And follow the rules of crossing state lines with such items. Even if you appear not to receive payment.

Thanks, everyone.

It's my understanding that you have to have some kind of provenance to sell it, which I totally do not. They were just a gift a long time ago from someone who'd had them forever, and who thinks about the potential future possibility of that when giving a child a present?

Heck, I can remember enjoying looking at all the ivory miniatures in the shops on Lincoln Road Mall in Miami Beach back then and thinking about which ones would be great for my dolls house. Really wanted the ivory flax wheel.

I suppose I could pretend I thought they were bone, but I don't think Chinese ivories from that period have enough value to make it worthwhile to try to sell them.

You need to talk to a reputable antiques dealer, one who is also a certified or whatever the word is for an appraiser with credentials. Seems to me there is monetary value in the figures. Antiques roadshow anyone?

"It's my understanding that you have to have some kind of provenance to sell it, which I totally do not. They were just a gift a long time ago from someone who'd had them forever, and who thinks about the potential future possibility of that when giving a child a present?"

That is the beginning of the provenance of your items. If they appear in a photo of long ago (even in the background) keep the photo and approximate dates of when you were given the items with the items.

Thanks, westsider and maddielee. Unfortunately, they were never out on display in my room (one reason they haven't yellowed much), since our dog loved to shop there for things to destroy and leave in front of the front door to express his displeasure when we went on outings without him, so they always lived in a drawer. In any case, I believe the international convention on ivory is "nothing after 1947" and while I'm old, I'm not that old. :)

Anyway, here are a couple of pics, so those who expressed interest just let me know if you still want them:

ETA They will stand up without the bases, too.

Beautiful...I would love to have them if people who responded before me don't.

They are really nice, be sure you document what you do know about them for the lucky person who gets them.

Oh I like them alot too. Good luck to the recipient.

Reminds me of my Aunt's Chinese antiques, her house is full of them. The one item I would love for her to put in the will for me would be the "doctor's doll", a reclining ivory nude lady on a wooden base. Because of the modesty of Chinese ladies in olden times, a doctor would ask the lady to point to areas that were of concern to her, i.e. pain, etc. This particular dd is about 14" long by 6" or 7" tall. I love it.

writersblock, these look very similar to yours. Check out the estimated sales price.

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/10982756_set-of-8-chinese-carved-ivory-horses

OTOH, this one also looks slightly like yours, and was listed on eBay as "faux ivory", made of ox bone. The auction is not active, and I can't get any additional photos to load.

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Antique-Chinese-Miniature-Hand-Carved-Faux-Ivory-Horse-Figure-Bone-/350828463364

Thanks, TR. Yes, if I had the documentation they would sell for roughly $50 or a bit more each based on past auctions, but then that would be less the buyer's premium and the auction house fee. But in any case it's moot because I have no proof of provenance and nobody I've asked about it will touch them without it.

And I should mention that there's a law before our state legislature right now that would make the possession of any ivory piece (including piano keys) illegal without proven written provenance, so I might as well send them off to a new home before that passes.

BTW, there's a lot of "bone" for sale these days, ever since the rules changed in 2014.

I've spoken to several of the leading antique dealers in my area and they one and all say they are just sending all the ivory they had back to the owners, whether they have provenance or not, because it's just not worth the potential hassles.

Thanks. Bumblebeez. Yes, as I said in my original post, I acknowledge the validity of that viewpoint, and certainly I would never purchase anything made from new ivory. On the other hand, I also would not destroy thousands of years of art just to make a point. But I completely understand anyone feeling that way.

Missiemoo, if you're still interested, please PM me, since you were the first in line. If not, please let me know.

I just sent you a message :)