I wouldn't display the ivory pieces. I have a Chinese tea set in a wicker box holder that I bought in mainland China. Have various pieces I won't describe, from Hong Kong. They make gold pieces right there in shops. I always declared everything I had bought when I got to the states. I kept the sales slips for that accounting, but of course I don't have them now.
One time I told the US customs guy as soon as I was in front of him that I had overbought so would have to pay duty and here were all my sales slips. He crossed off books and antiques, said they weren't counted for duty and I didn't have to pay any duty. I was an open book with customs people. People who would try to sneak something in, are very likely to get caught and I wasn't going to be one of them.
Going into England one time, I got a cranky guy who wanted to know what was in the rolling bag I had. He pissed me off to question I might have something illegal in there. Told him, “CANNED MEXICAN FOOD”. My son lived there and naturally as a Texan, he got no Texas type Mexican food so I always carried him some - nothing fresh, all canned and that is legal. So, cranky guy went through my canned Mexican food. When you go into England, you have to put down where you are staying and when you are leaving. They know exactly where you are when you are there and you better not be there after the date you say you are leaving.
Just for the record:
“When you go into England, you have to put down where you are staying and when you are leaving. They know exactly where you are when you are there and you better not be there after the date you say you are leaving. ”
The U.S. is exactly the same in this respect.
The Airport (LAX) failed to take my green visa card as I left , some years ago.
The following year I was subjected to the most pathetic ‘interview’ in history.
They had ‘proof’ I had been in the country for a whole year...having just arrived on a 747.