{"product_id":"candyman-s-live-basket","title":"Candyman’s Live Basket","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e🐚 Candyman19876 — Abalone Shell No. 9\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNew Zealand Abalone \/ Pāua Shell — £33.00\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYou picked an absolutely beautiful one! 💙 No. 9 has particularly striking \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003edeep blue iridescence\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e across the inside, and at approximately hand-size, this is a lovely substantial shell rather than one of the smaller pieces.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA little about your shell…\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThese beautiful abalone shells originate from \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNew Zealand\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, where abalone — known locally as \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003epāua\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e — is a protected and carefully managed natural resource. Harvesting is controlled by strict quotas, limiting how much can legally be collected each year.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe shell was then sent to the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePhilippines to be professionally worked and polished\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. The naturally rough outer surface has been carefully polished back to reveal the incredible nacre hidden beneath, meaning you can enjoy that gorgeous natural iridescence from \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eboth sides of the shell\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe blues, greens, silvers and flashes of rainbow colour are completely natural — created by layers of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003enacre (mother-of-pearl)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e built by the living abalone as it grew. No two shells will ever have exactly the same colour, markings or pattern.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e🌊 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhat lived inside?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAbalone are marine molluscs — essentially large sea snails! They live attached firmly to rocky coastal surfaces and use a powerful muscular foot to cling to the rock while grazing on algae and seaweed.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe distinctive row of holes along the shell is also completely natural. As the abalone grows, new respiratory holes form while older ones gradually close. The open holes allow water to pass through the animal’s gills and also help remove waste.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYour shell is therefore a genuine natural piece, with its individual shape, markings and imperfections forming part of its story.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e📦 Postage\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePlease select \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSMALL POSTAGE\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e at checkout.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYour parcel will be posted \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003edirectly to your home address\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, rather than to a collection locker, so please don’t worry about that.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThank you so much for your first purchase with \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eStarshine Minerals\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e — and welcome! ✨\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRare • Reactive • Remarkable\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Starshine Minerals","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57942000337240,"sku":null,"price":33.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0969\/4304\/7000\/files\/07B56C4E-E1AB-497C-91E3-F1C17FE5866E.jpg?v=1786470266","url":"https:\/\/starshineminerals.co.uk\/products\/candyman-s-live-basket","provider":"Starshine Minerals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}