CBP may request provenance documentation such as auction records, dealer certificates, appraisals, or scientific dating reports to substantiate an age claim. There is no single prescribed form of evidence, but the burden is on the importer to demonstrate age. For high-value pieces, a formal appraisal from a recognized expert or institution is advisable.

No. Classification as an antique under 9706 addresses tariff treatment only. A piece that is over 100 years old but incorporates ivory, tortoiseshell, or other CITES-regulated materials still requires applicable CITES permits. Similarly, archaeological or ethnographic antiques from treaty countries remain subject to cultural property import restrictions regardless of their tariff classification.