Shell Information

Carved Marlin Spike Shell

These beautiful carved and polished auger Indo Pacific shells are one of our favourites and are striking in their appearance. We sell these polished at a great price and they retain a natural appearance due to their sandy tigery colour and wonderful shape. These are very popular with our corporate clients but several grouped together in a glass jar or as a window display will create a striking shell decoration in the most "beachy" or contemporary home.

8 to 13 cms

£1.95 each
£18 for 10

Tonna Allium Shells

We're always surprised how beautiful these devils of the sea look in any seashell display. If you made the mistake of shrinking to several inches in height and swimming past one deep in Indo Pacific waters the chances are a marine snail of inferior size to you would emerge from the pretty brown lined shell and eat you for breakfast. Having said that, they are stunning shells with soft brown and cream lines which make for an excellent shell decoration in beach decor themed rooms.

8 to 10 centimetres

£1.95 each
£8 for 5

Kamtscha Red Abalones

We're sure you'll agree that these delicate, harder to find, unusual red/green oval shaped abalones are very beautiful. Abalones are of course edible and can be found in most corners of the world in cold waters. They're also known as ear shells (well they are ear shaped!) and muttonfish - that's probably due to the flesh being considered rather tasty in Australia. Our picture shows both side of the shell and these look lovely alongside our pink cabibe shells.

5 to 8cms

£1.95 each
£8 for 5

Pink Cabibe Mussel Shell 10cm (4ins) upwards

If we say so ourselves, these are really stunning shells and at a whopping minimum of 4 inches across are certainly big enough to display all on their own. These are polished and we have a spread of these with turbo sarmaticus in our very own bathroom! Great for weddings and any event requiring shell decoration too. We recently sent out a quantity of these where the wedding party were writing the individual seating list on the tip of these pink coral coloured shells. Not always easy to source so please email info@dorsetgifts.com for bulk purchase orders.

£1.95 each
£18 for 10

Murex Shell 8 to 10 cm ( 3 to 4 ins)

The popularity of these shallow water murex shells can probably be found in the fact that they're twisty turny shells with lots of interesting shape to them and can be displayed pink lip up, pink lip down or on just about any of their sides as the brushed brown on white looks as pretty as the pink open lip of the shell. Lovely additions to shell collections for both inside and outside your home and they look great grouped with pectin scallops in a shell decoration. The Romans used these shells 2000 years ago to produce a purple blue indigo dye which was secreted from the glands inside the shell. They are abundant along the west coast of Africa to this very day and can also to be found on European Atlantic shores.

£1.50 each
£12 for 10
£20 for 20

Please e-mail or call to buy shells at bulk prices

Sputnik Sea Urchin 5 to 8 cms

We call these our "designer" shells, because a lot of interior designers like to buy these in bulk. They're bobbly and bubbly and there's nothing else out there quite like them, but please note they are a very fragile shell so are probably best out of the reach of younger members of the household. A tube foot or gill would once have extended out of each of the small holes you can see in the picture. The raised tubercles would have supported a spine. You can therefore show these to your friends and have the opportunity to use the word "tubercle" which is clearly one of the lesser used but most beautiful in the English Language. Grouped together these beautiful sea urchins create a wonderful effect. You're staring in to the eyes of the natural world! On a tastier note, still very much considered a delicacy on dining tables from Sumatra to Zanzibar! If you are fond of beach decor, these are an ideal addition to your room.

£2.50 each
£20 for 10
Please e-mail or call to buy seashells at bulk prices

Tigerina Mussels - polished 8 to 10cm

Another striking shell with good weight behind it and polished tigerina clam shells aren't too easy to source, so if you do require a larger quantity please email info@dorsetgifts.com first so we can give you a definite dispatch date. These are quite beautiful shells and as with all our shell products come to you from sustainable and renewable sources.

£1.95 each
£18 for 10

Pearlised Troca Shell 5 to 7 cm

We love our cone shaped trocas. They're hardy, heavy, chunky pieces and if a customer picks a dozen shells in our shop there's always one of these in the pile. These ones are a little smaller than some of our other shells although we periodically have larger pearlised trocas in stock. These sell very well as the silvery colour mixes in well with other shells in a display collection. They are very popular as wedding shell decorations.

£1.95 each
£18 for 10
Please e-mail or call to buy seashells at bulk prices

Marble Cone - Conus Mamoreus 8-10 cms - QT4010

Sometimes referred to as just "cones" these polished intricately patterned shells are probably the most popular and collectible in the shop. They look especially good in small clusters anywhere around the home.

£1.95 each
£18 for 10
Please e-mail or call to buy shells at bulk prices

Mitre Shells 4 to 5 inches - QT 4026

These brightly coloured and vibrant orange shells are actually named after the peaked pointed hats worn by members of the clergy. The live and feed in warm shallow seas. Our ones are larger than most you see on the internet and the orange squares make this a "must have" addition to any collection.

£1.95 each
£18 for 10
Please e-mail for bulk discounts

Pectin Scallops 5 to 8 cms - QT4033

Double sided in assorted colours. These beautiful light shells come in mixed colours. We will evenly sort out a balanced mix of colours for all bulk purchases. If you are choosing one shell than we usually send a lighter colour unless your order is accompanied with a specific colour request.

£1.25 each
£20 for 20
Please e-mail or phone for bulk prices

Lambis Chiraga - Spider Conch 5 to 6 ins

An Indo Pacific shallow water shell with fingerlike projections and pretty markings. These shells are a species of large sea snail and perfect in fishnet displays or as house decorations.

£2.95 each
£25 for 10
Please e-mail for bulk price

Tiger Cowries 6-7 cms - KT4013

Very interesting to look at and these dome shaped shells have been used as currency in several parts of the world over the centuries, although we prefer payment in sterling. Probably the most popular shells bought by adults for children and one for them to listed to the sea in.

£1.95 each
£18 for 10
Please e-mail or phone for bulk orders

Pointer or Finger Starfish minimum 7 ins

Our pointer starfish can be purchased if required in an assortment of colours. We often use these as part of our window display and most bulk purchases are for nautically themed weddings. Super little gifts which look great anywhere in the home too. Larger sizes available with best prices by request. We aim to not be beaten on prices for our shells and starfish and will attempt to beat any price comparisons submitted to us.

Available in Blue, White or Red

£2.50 each
£20 for 10
Please e mail for bulk purchases

Tiger Starfish 10 to 15 cms - QT4111

Light, brightly coloured compact and hardy with an interesting shape - one of our Top 10 pick up lines in the shop, these jungle star fish are great for weddings, collecting, craft shows or beach decor themed rooms, hanging in nets or even your office desk ... they fit in anywhere!

£1.95 each
£18 for 10
Please e-mail or phone for bulk purchases

Knobbly Starfish - minimum 3 inches wide

Of all the starfish we sell these are the ones that our customers pick up, look at, feel the texture of and talk to one another about. Personally, we prefer the tigers and the pointers but there's something about knobbly star fish that captures the imagination of the public and it's probably not just the name! Yep, they have knobbles and are a rustic ocean like colour - they've got the octopus in them we suppose. Defintely an interesting and beautiful sea creature but be quick as stock often runs low.

£2.50 each
£5 for 3
£15 for 10
Please e-mail or phone for bulk purchases

Abalone Shells 15cms and up - QT4070

Also known as ear shells and of oval shape with an iridescent inside surface. These strong shells are mainly found in the cold waters of the Southern Hemisphere and will enliven your bathroom, making a superb soap dish or "stand alone" decoration.

£4.99 each
£20 for 5
Please e-mail for bulk discounts

Turbo Sarmaticus 7-8cms - QT4080

Probably our prettiest and most delicate shell. These have been copper dyed and polished to perfection to enhance the beautiful colours of these natural shells. Lovely against oak, mahogany or other dark woods.

£5.95 each
£25 for 5
Please e-mail for bulk buying discount

Scallop Shells - minimum 4 inches across

The fishermen take their boats out upon the seas off the coast of the British Isles where some of them fish for scallops. Most of those scallops end up in restaurants throughout Britain and this makes for a very ecological reason to use the shells for other means in the home. Our customers clean them and use as a dining plate, with tea lights, as soap dishes or as shell craft objects ..... they're beautiful. It's a British shell from our home waters so sits comfortably in our homes - make use of a few. Please Dorset Gifts customers - these are straight from the ocean so may need a little cleaning.

99p each
£7 for 10
£12 for 20
Please e-mail for bulk buying discount

Shell Basket with Starfish 8ins - KT4052

Much larger than the usual shell baskets seen on the internet and with an interesting collection of African and Asian shells. We do have smaller and larger sizes although the 8 inch shell baskets represent the best value for money.

£3.95 each
£10 for 3
Please e-mail for bulk purchases

Large bag of polished shells

Our larger bags of polished shells come with bigger shells than the smaller 350 grammes unpolished bags below. They weigh approximately 700 grammes and contain about twenty different and interesting varities of shell which are of a size that we could sell individually in the shop. They will include polished trochas, scallops, snails, murexes and cowries and represent great value showing lots of colours. The shells on average probably size at 5 centimetres and a couple of bags will create a great shell display or theme for the home. A good way to buy an interesting variety of attractive shells.

£7.99 each
£15 for 2

Shell Net Bag 350g (15137)

Excellent roped bags of shells weighing 350 grammes. An interesting selection. Please email us for special rates when considering bulk purchases of these shell bags.

£2.50

Mini Shell Pack on Clam Shell Base

Used as sea themed home decorations, gifts or wedding favours these tiny pretty little packs of interesting assorted shells, to include a miniature starfish come wrapped in a clear film and weigh a little over 100 grammes for each pack. The clam shell they rest on is, of course, the largest shell and once unwrapped will act as a base for the small shell assortment on top. We sell these alongside the larger 350 grammes bags above for our customers wanting to create a interesting shell display. They also mix in well with our lighter coloured craft shells.

Approx 3" diameter and 2" top to bottom.

£2.75 each
£20 for 10

Heart Cockle Shell Garland

Our heart cockle shell garlands are always in demand and are approximately 25cms across and 18 cms in height. They are made of hundreds of beautiful small heart cockle shells so what better shape to work towards than that of a heart? Popular as a decorative line in pairs and sought after as wedding shell themed party decorations too. They come complete with a small hanging attachment at the top. Please email info@dorsetgifts.com if requiring more than six for a bulk purchase price.

£20 each
£35 for 2

Barnacles

...blistering but beautiful.

If you've ever walked by the sea near piers, boats or rocks you're sure to have been near barnacles. They're small shell fish which glue themselves to rocks, ships and even whales and wait for their meal to swim past. They live in shallow and tidal waters and are related to crabs and lobsters. They're not a boat's best friend and can damage the structure of a boat as well as reduce a ship's speed by 50% once they have formed a crust upon its hull. But apart from all this, we think these purple barnacles are beautiful and they measure a minimum of 4 inches in height, depth and width. Extremely delicate in this form, they could break a little in transit but should come to you in one piece at the minimum size stated and if a barnacle or two is dislodged it should not affect the overall visual appeal. A great nautical decoration and centrepiece around other shells.

All barnacles are different but we will try to send you an item that reflects as closely as possible, the type shown in the images.

Minimum 4 inches high, wide and deep.

£8.99 each
£16 for 2
£23 for 3