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Exempt Bows of Stringed Instruments from the Ivory Act Registration Requirement In December 2018 the UK parliament passed the Ivory Act. Musicians, music shops and auction houses are going to be severely affected by a new requirement to register bows of stringed instruments under the Ivory Act. The practicalities of doing so, along with the cost will make it very difficult – and in some cases impossible - to buy and sell antique bows. Over the last few months, behind the scenes quite a few people in our field have been lobbying the UK government to try to get exemption for ivory head plates on bows. We even managed to get an amendment in the bill but frustratingly it was not passed. So it is time to bring this very important issue to a wider audience. We will continue to fight the corner as robustly as we can, but in the meantime if you are a British resident, please, please, please sign (and share!) the petition - https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/237247 Whilst the ethics of this Act cannot be faulted, the practical application can. The only outcome of having to register, and pay a fee for such a small fragment of antique ivory, will be unnecessary damage and devaluation of bows. Please sign. The petition is a really important element of a bigger lobbying plan and your support is invaluable - we will only have one more chance to get this law changed and we are going to need as much support as possible. Thank you very much. Additional Information Thankfully there is some good news in the shape of a musical instrument exemption. Section 8 - Pre-1975 musical instruments An item that has ivory in it is exempt from the prohibition if— (a) the item is a pre-1975 musical instrument (b) the volume of ivory in the instrument is less than 20% of the total volume of the material of which the instrument is made (c) the instrument is registered under section 10. In this section “musical instrument”— (a) does not include anything that, although capable of being played as a musical instrument, was not made primarily for that purpose; (b) includes a bow, plectrum or other thing made for playing a musical instrument.
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Please come to The Amati Exhibition on Sunday 23rd and Monday 24th being held at the Langham Hotel in London. The Amati Exhibition showcases the very best antique and contemporary instruments and bows. Now in its fourth year the exhibition is an invaluable networking event for the stringed instrument community. The focus for this year is to reintroduce a more relaxed and informal feel so rather than a host a concert we are delighted to be joined by Trio Isimsiz for Sunday’s drinks reception. They are going to play Dvorak’s piano trio in F minor and the last movement of Schumann’s piano trio in G minor. On Monday there is an ‘Open Stage’ session where musicians from YCAT (Young Classical Artists Trust) and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama will perform with instruments chosen from the exhibitor’s tables. Our instrument highlight this year is a cello by Giovanni Grancino, Milan, 1696, generously loaned from a private collection courtesy of J & A Beare. The cello has survived in a remarkably pure state with unpolished naturally worn varnish. Entrance on both days is free. For more information please contact Charlott on +44 (0)20 7099 7114 or visit the exhibition page on our website. Exhibitor List Adam Whone Violins Allianz Amati Auctioneers British Violin Making Association Caballero & Graswinckel Chaconne Chris Halstead Colin Adamson Fiddlease Florian Leonhard Fine Violins Gaspar Borchardt Helge Netland Lark Leatherwood Bespoke Rosin Mark Jennings Matthias Kayssler Newark School of Violin Making Noel Burke Paul Shelley Peter Oxer Rod Ward Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama Sunrise Thwaites Turner Violins Ulf Johansson Ulf Kloo William John