-:Undertaker:-
18-02-2014, 06:53 AM
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2561656/From-maharajahs-throne-George-IVs-duelling-sword-treasures-risk-Williams-mission-destroy-royal-ivory-critics-bonkers.html
From a maharajah's throne to George IV's duelling sword, the treasures at risk: William's mission to destroy royal ivory as critics describe it as 'bonkers'
- Prince William has vowed to destroy the collection of royal ivory
- Queen currently holds 1,200 pieces of ivory in Royal Collection
- However, she does not own it, but holds it in trust for the nation
- Experts have described William's plan as 'incomprehensible'
- They say destroying treasures will put elephants in more danger
Prince William’s plan to destroy the Royal Family’s priceless ivory collection was condemned by academics and art and antiques experts yesterday as ‘infuriating’ and ‘bonkers beyond belief’.
Even a Buckingham Palace source said the idea of wiping out a treasury of historic art held in trust for the nation was ‘incomprehensible’.
The prince is said to believe the destruction would reinforce the message that the ivory trade is deeply immoral and discourage poachers.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/02/17/article-2561656-1B92D42C00000578-573_634x721.jpghttp://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/09/36/46/093646d076ac12d56a9cf55fe528a591.jpg
This magnificent throne was given to Victoria by India's Maharajah of Travancore in 1851. It shows off the carving skills of the region in southern India and was displayed at the Great Exhibition. The Ivory throne and velvet-topped footstool are decorated with gemstones and Indian and European motifs
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/02/17/article-2561656-1B9467DA00000578-638_306x760.jpghttp://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/02/17/article-2561656-1B933E8700000578-928_306x760.jpg
George IV: Both items were bought by 19th-century monarch. Left is a lidded ivory cup from Vienna described by a newspaper in 1788 as 'an indescribably beautiful effort in art'. The king bought it in 1823. Decorated with rubies, emeralds and turquoise gemstones, it shows Hercules holding up the globe. Right is a duelling sword bought for the sovereign for £21 - £1,700 today - it has an ivory hilt showing Perseus rescuing Andromeda from a dragon
But his plan has been described as misguided by some experts, who say destroying legally held stocks would make ivory an even rarer commodity and actively encourage poaching.
They point out that previous attempts to suppress the ivory trade by destroying stockpiles have simply driven up the price of tusks.
The Royal Collection, which is not owned by the Queen but is held in trust for the nation, includes 1,200 ivory items such as rare paintings, pianos, bookcases, tables, chairs and carvings.
Much of it was presented to the prince’s ancestors by foreign countries – which may take a dim view of their gifts being destroyed.
William’s radical suggestion, made to veteran primatologist Dame Jane Goodall, would also threaten a portrait of his own grandmother – the collection includes a miniature of the Queen as a toddler, painted on ivory in 1928.
Dame Jane told the Independent On Sunday that William had told her he would ‘like to see all the ivory owned by Buckingham Palace destroyed’.
Art experts reacted with horror, claiming it would decimate an important part of Britain’s heritage, of which he was merely a ‘custodian’.
David Harper, an antiques expert and art broker, said: ‘This is bonkers beyond belief. The very idea of destroying beautiful and valuable artwork to make a point is crazy.
‘It will only put more elephants’ lives at risk. By getting rid of such a large collection, it will actually put up the price of tusks. People’s lust for ivory would only increase and it would be a great day for the traders.’
He said that instead of destroying its ivory, Britain should donate it to the Far East, thereby flooding the market and reducing its attractiveness. Or it could be sold overseas and the profits used for conservation work in Africa.
William’s apparent brainwave came days after he launched United For Wildlife, a coalition of seven organisations including the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and London Zoo, which aims to end the illegal wildlife trade.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/02/17/article-2561656-1B933DD000000578-666_634x567.jpg
A grand piano made for Queen Victoria in 1856. It has ivory keys and is made of satinwood.The paintings show cherubs and monkeys playing instruments
If this is all true and he wants to destroy these beautiful pieces of our heritage as a nation, then he'll hopefully be kept away from the throne for as long as possible. If they are not personal items of the Royal Family, then he has no right to touch these items because as the article said - he's merely a custodian. I mean really, what next? Let's pull the Pyramids of Egypt down because they were built by slaves? If he gets his way then he should be charged for every single item that he has destroyed - many of them being priceless for historical value like that ivory throne.
If this is all true then I worry for the throne after the Queen has gone and i'm a staunch monarchist.
Thoughts?
From a maharajah's throne to George IV's duelling sword, the treasures at risk: William's mission to destroy royal ivory as critics describe it as 'bonkers'
- Prince William has vowed to destroy the collection of royal ivory
- Queen currently holds 1,200 pieces of ivory in Royal Collection
- However, she does not own it, but holds it in trust for the nation
- Experts have described William's plan as 'incomprehensible'
- They say destroying treasures will put elephants in more danger
Prince William’s plan to destroy the Royal Family’s priceless ivory collection was condemned by academics and art and antiques experts yesterday as ‘infuriating’ and ‘bonkers beyond belief’.
Even a Buckingham Palace source said the idea of wiping out a treasury of historic art held in trust for the nation was ‘incomprehensible’.
The prince is said to believe the destruction would reinforce the message that the ivory trade is deeply immoral and discourage poachers.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/02/17/article-2561656-1B92D42C00000578-573_634x721.jpghttp://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/09/36/46/093646d076ac12d56a9cf55fe528a591.jpg
This magnificent throne was given to Victoria by India's Maharajah of Travancore in 1851. It shows off the carving skills of the region in southern India and was displayed at the Great Exhibition. The Ivory throne and velvet-topped footstool are decorated with gemstones and Indian and European motifs
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/02/17/article-2561656-1B9467DA00000578-638_306x760.jpghttp://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/02/17/article-2561656-1B933E8700000578-928_306x760.jpg
George IV: Both items were bought by 19th-century monarch. Left is a lidded ivory cup from Vienna described by a newspaper in 1788 as 'an indescribably beautiful effort in art'. The king bought it in 1823. Decorated with rubies, emeralds and turquoise gemstones, it shows Hercules holding up the globe. Right is a duelling sword bought for the sovereign for £21 - £1,700 today - it has an ivory hilt showing Perseus rescuing Andromeda from a dragon
But his plan has been described as misguided by some experts, who say destroying legally held stocks would make ivory an even rarer commodity and actively encourage poaching.
They point out that previous attempts to suppress the ivory trade by destroying stockpiles have simply driven up the price of tusks.
The Royal Collection, which is not owned by the Queen but is held in trust for the nation, includes 1,200 ivory items such as rare paintings, pianos, bookcases, tables, chairs and carvings.
Much of it was presented to the prince’s ancestors by foreign countries – which may take a dim view of their gifts being destroyed.
William’s radical suggestion, made to veteran primatologist Dame Jane Goodall, would also threaten a portrait of his own grandmother – the collection includes a miniature of the Queen as a toddler, painted on ivory in 1928.
Dame Jane told the Independent On Sunday that William had told her he would ‘like to see all the ivory owned by Buckingham Palace destroyed’.
Art experts reacted with horror, claiming it would decimate an important part of Britain’s heritage, of which he was merely a ‘custodian’.
David Harper, an antiques expert and art broker, said: ‘This is bonkers beyond belief. The very idea of destroying beautiful and valuable artwork to make a point is crazy.
‘It will only put more elephants’ lives at risk. By getting rid of such a large collection, it will actually put up the price of tusks. People’s lust for ivory would only increase and it would be a great day for the traders.’
He said that instead of destroying its ivory, Britain should donate it to the Far East, thereby flooding the market and reducing its attractiveness. Or it could be sold overseas and the profits used for conservation work in Africa.
William’s apparent brainwave came days after he launched United For Wildlife, a coalition of seven organisations including the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and London Zoo, which aims to end the illegal wildlife trade.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/02/17/article-2561656-1B933DD000000578-666_634x567.jpg
A grand piano made for Queen Victoria in 1856. It has ivory keys and is made of satinwood.The paintings show cherubs and monkeys playing instruments
If this is all true and he wants to destroy these beautiful pieces of our heritage as a nation, then he'll hopefully be kept away from the throne for as long as possible. If they are not personal items of the Royal Family, then he has no right to touch these items because as the article said - he's merely a custodian. I mean really, what next? Let's pull the Pyramids of Egypt down because they were built by slaves? If he gets his way then he should be charged for every single item that he has destroyed - many of them being priceless for historical value like that ivory throne.
If this is all true then I worry for the throne after the Queen has gone and i'm a staunch monarchist.
Thoughts?