Is it permissible to trade in antiquities that contain images and statues, and to acquire some of them?

Selling statues is forbidden due to the saying of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him: "Indeed, Allah and His Messenger have forbidden the sale of wine, dead animals, pigs, and idols."

Possessing images of animate beings from which that which life cannot be sustained without, like the head, has not been removed, or which have not been subjected to degrading use, is forbidden, due to the saying of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him: "The angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog or images," and the saying of Aisha: "The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would not leave anything in his house that had crosses upon it, except that he would break it."