Scope of service and documentation

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Ivory keytop conservation involves materials that are regulated under international wildlife trade law. Kaduk approaches this with the same rigor as the conservation work itself.

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At present, ivory keytop conservation is offered for instruments located within the European Union only.
This allows us to operate within a clear, harmonized regulatory framework and to ensure that every project is handled transparently, correctly, and without unnecessary risk to the instrument or its owner.

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This scope is intentional. It enables a precise and predictable process, aligned with EU CITES regulations, and avoids the inconsistencies that arise when identical work is treated differently across non-EU jurisdictions.

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A structured and future-proof process

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Because ivory keytops are conserved as original historic material, their temporary removal and transport requires clear identification and documentation. Rather than treating this as an administrative burden, we use it as an opportunity to establish proper records for the instrument.

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As part of the conservation process, clients create — often for the first time — a concise documentation set for their keyboard and instrument. These documents remain useful long after the repair itself, for future servicing, insurance, institutional use, or provenance records.

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Kaduk provides clear templates and guidance to make this process straightforward.

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Identification and traceability

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To ensure unambiguous identification during transport and inspection, we require visual documentation of the instrument and the specific keys involved.

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This includes:

• The instrument as a whole

• The keyboard in situ

• The exact keys removed for conservation

• A clear layout of those keys prior to shipment

 

This visual record makes it immediately evident that the keys belong to a specific historic instrument and that the work concerns conservation of existing material only. It provides clarity for all parties involved, including transport and border authorities.

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Temporary removal, permanent integrity

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Only the affected keys are shipped — not the instrument itself.
The keys are conserved and returned to the same instrument from which they originated.

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No new ivory is introduced.
No original material is replaced.
The keyboard remains historically intact, structurally stable, and playable.

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Regulatory handling and owner responsibilities

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Ivory keytops are regulated material. Even when fully legal and historic, their temporary movement as loose keys requires formal handling under EU wildlife trade regulations.

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Kaduk does not bypass this framework. We work within it — clearly, correctly, and predictably.

For this reason, part of the preparation must be completed by the instrument owner before shipment.

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What the owner must arrange (and why)

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1. Intra-EU authorization for commercial conservation work

When ivory keytops are removed from an instrument and transported as loose keys, their handling falls under Article 8 of EU Regulation 338/97, which governs commercial activities involving protected materials.

Although there are no customs borders within the EU, paid conservation and repair work is considered a commercial activity under this regulation. For this reason, the owner must ensure that the keys are covered by an appropriate Article 10 certificate (commonly known as the “yellow certificate”) or an equivalent authorization issued by their national CITES authority, explicitly allowing temporary movement for conservation and return.

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This authorization does not permit trade or sale. It documents lawful commercial conservation only.

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2. Provenance declaration of the instrument

The owner must declare the origin of the ivory as part of a historic instrument.

This includes:

• Instrument make and model

• Approximate year of manufacture

• Serial number (if available)

• Confirmation that the ivory keytops are original to the instrument

This declaration remains with the instrument and is useful well beyond this conservation project.

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3. Visual identification record (required)

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To ensure unambiguous identification during transport or inspection, the owner must supply photographic documentation before shipment.

This includes:

• The instrument as a whole

• The keyboard installed in the instrument

• The specific keys that are removed

• A clear layout of those keys prior to packing

This visual record allows authorities to immediately verify:

• That the keys belong to a specific historic instrument

• That no additional ivory is introduced

• That the movement is temporary and traceable

Kaduk will not accept keys without this documentation.

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What Kaduk does (and what we do not do)

 

Kaduk:

• Provides documentation templates and exact wording

• Confirms eligibility before shipment

• Performs all conservation work using modern, non-CITES composite and synthetic materials exclusively. No protected biological material is added, processed, or substituted.

• Returns the same keys to the same owner

 

Kaduk does not:

• Apply for permits on behalf of the owner

• Declare or trade ivory

• Accept undocumented shipments

• Replace ivory or introduce new protected material

• Function as an ivory workshop; it operates as a conservation studio focused on stabilizing historic material using contemporary, fully legal techniques.
   

This division of responsibility is intentional and protects both parties.

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Why this approach matters

 

This process ensures that:

• The keys are not delayed or seized in transit

• The instrument gains proper, future-proof documentation

• Conservation is legally and historically defensible

• Original ivory is preserved rather than destroyed or replaced

 

It also aligns with the broader goal of conservation:
maintaining historic instruments as coherent, documented, living objects — not just repairing damage in isolation.