Ken,
 
 
>Hey, you've provided a little drama for the list!
 
I could do with less drama in my life! <G>
 
>Glad to hear things worked
>out for you.  I looked at the image, and I'd say the inlay is abalone, my
>guess from the color: Haliotis iris.  That hue of blue is very distinctive
to
>that species (from New Zealand).  Haliotis fulgens (West coast of N.A. from
>central Calif. - Mexico) also exhibits blues, but most specimens I've seen
>also have a definate shade of green mixed in.
>
>Good Luck with your auction!
 
 
Thanks for the encouragement, and the educated guess. Now maybe I can sound
like I know what I'm talking about. Then again...probably not!
 
Regards,
 
Norman