: Has anyone ever used abalone or mother-of-pearl as an inlay?

Another source for you guys. Remembering the $NZ exchage rate is $0.40 NZ = $1US, it might be worth contacting paua.bruce@xtra.co.nz
they also offer a strip cutting service for $2 NZ per sheet

Paua is pretty lurid, but it is a cultural thing for us New Zealand types. I am going to put a 1.5 cm (1/2")sheerline stripe on the Guillemot S&G I hope to build (haven't assembled the panels yet, but they look awfully curly whirly). A thin strip of paua shell is pretty cool, but if you start inlaying acres of the stuff it gets very retro, very quickly.

Here is a copy of southern shells price list they sent me when I enquired:

WHOLESALE 23 March 2001
PRODUCT AND PRICE LIST

1. Shell Laminate NZD/Laminate (excl GST)

23cm x 13cm, 0.5mm thick

Paua, Abalone Pearl, Black Pearl - natural $13.00

White Pearl - natural $15.00

Paua - colour tinted $13.50

Colour Range - Blue, green, red, yellow, pink, burgundy

2. Panels NZD/Panel (excl GST)

23cm x 13cm, 2-3mm fibreglass back

Paua, Abalone Pearl, Black Pearl - natural $24.00

White Pearl - natural $26.00

Paua - colour tinted $24.50

Colour Range - Blue, green, red, yellow, pink, burgundy

Sizes: larger panels made on request

3. Polished Paua Shell NZD/ Shell (excl GST)

Trophy: 51/2-61/2 inch or 140-165mm $12.00

Standard: 4-5 inch or 100-130 mm $ 8.00

4. Polished Black Lip MOP

Trophy 12cm or bigger $12.00

Smaller $10.00

5. Tumbled Paua Pieces NZD/kg (excl GST)

Standard Grade - mixed sizes $15.00

Handsorted to size $25.00

($2/kg extra for double tumbled- semi polished)

6. Paua Nuggets NZD/string (excl GST)

Hole in centre, semi-polish finish, 15mm length, 25 per string $12.00

Larger: 10mm diameter; Smaller: 8mm diameter

7. ‘Fantasia Fabric’ cracked laminate on fabric for flexibility NZD/laminate

$50.00