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African Abalone Shells
Polished

Left: Polished Natural Small, Medium, and Large. See a size comparison to a quarter and a soda can.

Middle: Polished Natural Red Small, Medium, and Large. See a size comparison to a quarter and a soda can.

Right: Polished Dyed Copper Medium. See a size comparison to a quarter and a soda can.

Abalone shells are often used for smudging ceremonies by the Native Americans in the United States and Canada.  

The polished abalone shells have been highly polished to a beautiful sheen inside and out.  It takes about four hours to polish one shell.  These are beautiful decorative pieces or they can be used for inlay on rifle stocks, knives, and other items. Each shell weighs between 0.14 to 0.42 lbs.

Order Code Description Length Price Each
R-220-20-S African Abalone Shell:Polished:Natural:Small 4.0 - 5.0" (10 - 13 cm) US$12.00
R-220-20-M African Abalone Shell:Polished:Natural:Medium 5.0 - 5.5" (13 - 14 cm) US$12.50
R-220-20-L African Abalone Shell:Polished:Natural:Large 5.5 - 6.0" (14 - 15 cm) US$16.00
R-220-20-XL-Gxx African Abalone Shell:Polished:X-Large 6.5 - 7.5" See Gallery
       
R-220-20-NR-S African Abalone Shell:Polished:Natural Red:Small 4.0 - 5.0" (10 - 13 cm) US$12.50
R-220-20-NR-M African Abalone Shell:Polished:Natural Red:Medium 5.0 - 5.5" (13 - 14 cm) US$16.00
R-220-20-NR-L African Abalone Shell:Polished:Natural Red:Large 5.5 - 6.0" (14 - 15 cm) US$20.00
       
R-220-20-CP-M African Abalone Shell:Polished:Dyed Copper:Medium 5.0 - 5.5" (13 - 14 cm) US$16.00
       
R-220-20-57B African Abalone Shell:Polished:Chipped or Broken   US$5.50

Genus and species: Haliotis midae.

This particular species of abalone was placed under CITES III trade controls by South Africa in May 2007.  In June 2010, the South African government removed the CITES status on this shell. No CITES permits are required any longer.

The larger shells (4" and larger) are generally from wild stock found in the ocean.  These shells were harvested legally by commercial canning operations in South Africa.  Because of over harvesting and rampant poaching, the wild stocks are under threat.  The smaller shells are almost all from commercial aquaculture operations and are a renewable resource that is not under any threat.

Product of South Africa

Related Products

Natural African Abalone Shells

Dyed African Abalone Shells

A complete listing of the Abalone Shell products