A lidded ivory cup from Vienna, described by a newspaper in 1788 as 'an indescribably beautiful effort in art'. George IV bought it in 1823. Decorated with rubies, emeralds and turquoise gemstones, it shows Hercules holding up the globe. Prince William has indicated his wish to rid the Royal collection of ivory objects....for reasons that anyone could understand.........Although I am adverse to poaching and killing....even to create "art".......I am troubled by the moral high-mindedness of destroying these beautiful objects......Or....is the dilemma the same as, say....having lamp shades made from leatherized human scrotums excised from jews who were mutilated and killed in concentration camps......?
