Can I list a vintage bovine bone carved item on Etsy using the word “bone”?

Hi! Yes—you can use the word “bone” in an Etsy listing as long as it’s a non-ivory animal bone and it isn’t from a prohibited species. The bigger risk in your case isn’t the word “bone,” it’s making a confident materials claim when you’re not 100% sure what it’s made of.

If you’re not certain it’s bovine bone, describe it honestly and conservatively, for example:

• Title/Materials: “Vintage carved piece (bone-look material)” or “Vintage carved piece (possibly bone)”
• Description: “Believed to be carved bone (likely bovine), but material has not been lab-tested; please review photos and ask questions.”

A few important compliance/policy watch-outs for “bone” items on Etsy:

• Avoid anything that could be ivory (or “ivory substitutes” from ivory-producing animals). Etsy prohibits ivory and also prohibits bones from ivory‑producing animals (and it’s common for sellers to misidentify “bone/ivory,” so you want to be extra careful with wording).
• Don’t claim “legal ivory,” “pre-ban ivory,” “antique ivory,” “mammoth,” “elk ivory,” etc. If there’s any chance it could be one of those, don’t list it as bone—get it identified first.
• Be cautious with international shipping. Even when an item is allowed on Etsy, animal-material items can get complicated at the border depending on the species and the destination country. If you’re unsure, you may want to limit shipping to your country only (or be very selective about where you ship).

Documentation: you typically don’t need to upload paperwork to create the Etsy listing, but you should keep basic proof/notes in case Etsy asks questions or a buyer opens a case:

• Where you sourced it (estate sale, shop, auction, etc.) and any receipt/record you have
• Why you believe it dates to the 1970s (maker mark, style, comparable reference, etc.)
• Clear photos of any markings, patina/aging, and close-ups

Since it’s from the 1970s, it’s fine to list as vintage on Etsy (vintage = 20+ years), but avoid statements like “guaranteed bovine bone” or “certified bone” unless you can truly back that up.

If you want, paste your draft title + the first few lines of your description and I’ll help you rewrite it to be Etsy-safe while still keyword-friendly for Etsy SEO.