Key facts
- An art collector lost a legal fight over a sculpture containing an elephant tusk.
- The sculpture, 'The Obelisk of Satisfied Desire' by Eileen Agar, featured a 165-year-old elephant tusk.
- The artwork was deemed to be in breach of the 2018 Ivory Act.
- Expert Victor James was informed the 1930s piece cannot be traded due to the tusk.
An art collector has lost a legal battle concerning a sculpture that incorporated a 165-year-old elephant tusk. The artwork, known as 'The Obelisk of Satisfied Desire' and created by Eileen Agar, was found to be in violation of the 2018 Ivory Act. Expert Victor James was informed that the 1930s piece falls foul of the UK Ivory Act and therefore cannot be traded as it contains part of the tusk. This legislation governs the trade and possession of items made from ivory, including those from elephants.