Limpet bowl, Hawaii. Maui fires fundraiser

A limpet shell that makes a perfect shallow dish on an "old" silver coloured pedestal.  I collected this shell on the west coast of Maui during a wonderful holiday a few years ago.  This shell has a small bump on one side, which is very reminiscent of a blister pearl.  Technically, pretty much all molluscs can produce pearls, but I don't know if this really can count as one.  Just thought I'd point it out though.

I think that it is a black-foot opihi shell, a species endemic to Hawaii (only found there).  Limpets live on shoreline rocks and their shells wear to fit snugly against the rock so that they can resist pounding waves.  This means that the shells are irregular and may show some damage, although I have chosen the best of my shells for these pieces.

1 1/8 inches (2.9 cm) wide, 7/8 inch (2.2 cm) deep and 1 1/4 inches (3.2 cm) tall.