From: ktsahl@yahoo.com   
      
   Some years ago (circa 1982) when I was working for the U.S. Embassy and   
   living in Mogadishu, Somalia, I bought several pieces of hand carved   
   meerschaum. Some of the pieces are candle holders and some I guess could   
   be called jewelry boxes. The largest item is a solid meerschaum elephant   
   that weighs about 2-3 pounds and stands about 6 inches tall with a   
   length of a little over 6 inches. None of these items are great works of   
   art and could best be described as little more then amateur folk-art   
   that is meant for tourists.   
      
   Another thing that I obtained when I was in Africa was a variety of   
   hand-carved malachite items. Some "eggs", some carved turtles,   
   alligators and elephants, a couple small ashtrays. I know that malachite   
   is not cheap, but I also know these don't complete with the quality that   
   I've seen in stores. Again, amateur items intended for tourists.   
      
   How would I go about having something like that appraised for value and   
   get an honest figure? Having never delved into this type of thing before   
   my suspicious is that even if I could find a dealer who can do an   
   appraisal, that person would deliberately undervalue the item in hopes   
   of buying it themselves at the low-ball figure. On the other hand if he   
   felt I wouldn't sell to him anyhow he'd give me an outrageously high   
   figure knowing that I could never sell it at that value.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)