"So what's the story with Kolinsky sable brushes?" Topic

Like the title says…….

I my country (Canada) they are banned and not for sale.

The info on the internet is confusing to say the least. The sable comes from Siberian weasels which have to be trapped as they cannot be raised in captivity. They are an endangered species. Or they are NOT an endangered species. Or the wrong species. They come from Siberian Martens instead, which are raised in captivity.

The sale is not banned in the US and elsewhere. However, the importation of the sable is forbidden. Unless it's not. Vendors are only selling what is left of their stock. Unless they aren't as they CAN import the brushes after all.

Does anyone know what is actually happening? Should I buy from US sources, deliver them to my american friends and then smuggle them back across the border?

Smuggling is always the right answer, unless it isn't

The hair can be harvested humanely from the weasels. But suppliers have to provide paperwork/evidence that this is being done. A few years ago, Russia was not providing the proper paperwork so the US Fish and Wildlife Service put a ban on all Sable brushes from Russia. For about a year you could not get any Sable brushes in the US.

I don't know about any current bans for Canada.

I'm in Canada and I bought some from the UK a few years ago, and I'm pretty sure some I won at a con in Canada were also sable. I'm unaware of any ban, but then I've never looked, and given the seal fur we want to export, they'd pretty much have to be coming from CITES-listed species to be banned.

The following is the clearest explanation I've found for why we had problems in the US for a couple of years with "Kolinsky Sable" brushes. Fortunately, that situation seems to be clear in the US. I had not heard that there were issues in Canada, as well.

"Thank you for your inquiry regarding the importation of artist brushes manufactured with Siberian weasel hair that will require clearance by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  Our mission is, working with others, to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.
 
Please be advised that kolinsky paint brushes are not categorically prohibited from importation.  However, the importation of paint brushes manufactured with kolinskyhair of Chinese origin has been problematic for the reasons described below.     
The Siberian weasel, Mustela sibirica, is listed under Appendix III of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).  
CITES is an international agreement between governments.  Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.  The species covered by CITES are listed in three appendices according to the degree of protection they need.  Appendix I includes species threatened with extinction.  Trade in specimens of these species is permitted only in exceptional circumstances.  Appendix II includes species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but for which trade must be controlled in order to avoid overutilizationthat may threaten them with extinction.  Appendix III contains species that are protected in at least one country, which has asked other CITES Party countries for assistance in controlling the trade in that species.  
 
Imports or exports of Siberian weasel products must be accompanied by appropriate CITES documents from the country of origin and any re-exporting country.  The first document authorizing initial export must be valid for any receiving country to issue valid permits for subsequent re-export to other CITES countries.
The Chinese CITES Management Authority has confirmed that CITES documents certifying the origin of certain Siberianweasel hair shipments exported to companies in Europe were not issued by the appropriate organization and are not valid for CITES purposes.  Countries receiving these shipments cannot issue valid CITES re-export certificates for artist brushes manufactured from Siberian weasel hair imported with an invalid CITES certificate, and these artist brushes cannot be lawfully imported into the United States.
We acknowledge that this situation is creating difficulties for you and other U.S. importers of Siberian weasel hair artist brushes.  As a CITES member nation, however, the United States must uphold the terms of the treaty.  We understand that the CITES Management Authority in China is working to ensure that shipments of Siberianweasel hair are accompanied by valid CITES documents in the future.  

Written documentation is required by the party of the first part to mitigate any guilt or responsibility for anything the party of the second part might do in reckless abandon of compliance with rules and regulation by the party of the first part. Kind of like a weasel nuclear arms deal.

The ivory-handled sable brushes are even more problematic, so best to really avoid those…

"However, the importation of paint brushes manufactured with kolinskyhair of Chinese origin has been problematic…"

This is my shocked face.