These striking sheets have a sheen and iridescence that man-made materials cannot dream to imitate. Each sheet consists of smaller strips of shell that have been thinly sawn by hand from ethically sourced abalone shell.
The Premium range of abalone sheets handpicks only the most flawless of these shells for the best possible finish. The strips are colour matched before being bound together by epoxy giving each sheet a pleasant and uniform colouring, but some variation will exist from sheet to sheet. The sheets are then finished with a glossy urethane varnish, giving them a silky smooth finish and rich, deep colours as well as a measure of protection for the shell.
These Premium sheets of veneer are thicker than the standard sheets, ranging between 0.3 and 0.4mm based on the colour. It is suitable for a wide range of artistic and creative applications and this high quality material is widely used to add decorative finishes and accents to the reverse painted and gilded signs. The Premium range is even better for glass applications than the standard colours as the thicker sheets are flatter and have been polished to a higher layer of gloss. This removes imperfections and surface texture that minimizes the risk of trapped air bubbles and ensures a more even bond to your glass work.
These Premium sheets have had a backing colour applied to them and are ready to be use for both surface application and use in glass work! This sheet has been given a coat of red paint as a backing.
It is also important to bear in mind when buying and using abalone that the visual appearance and colours of the sheet vary depending on lighting and angle of viewing. Also, as it is a natural material there can be some variations in colour. We recommend creating test pieces when using abalone before going into full-scale production.
This product comes supplied as a single sheet, measuring 24cm x 14cm.
Larger sheet sizes can be supplied to order – please contact us for details
