What is Amber?
Amber, the fossilized resin of ancient trees, was formed by pressure and time. Many
species of trees are responsible for creating Amber, but the main source of fossil resin
is still being investigated by botanists today.
A Primer in Botanical Palentology (Old Trees)
We know that Mexican and Dominican Amber originated from the resin of HYMENEA
COURBARIL, a species much like our white locust tree. Glessite, one of the fossil resins
which occurs in association with Succinite (Amber), owes its origins to a plant which
still grows today in the vicinity of Halle, Germany. The amber-yielding pine PINUS
SUCCINIFERA, was described as the mother tree of Baltic Amber, the earliest known fossil
resins.
Although the causative agent responsible for the huge concentrations or deposits of
Amber remains a mystery. Amber could have resulted from a sudder rise of temperature in
the Eocene era, windfalls, fires, or volcanic processes. The oldest Amber dates from 230
million years ago.
The biggest deposits of Baltic Amber were formed about 40 million years ago, as Amber
was carried by a river flowing from the north and deposited in sediments called "Blue
Earth". The river's delta, rich in Amber, extended as far as the eastern part of the
Baltic Sea, and near the present town of Gdansk in Poland.
 Amber, amid masses of stony
mud, was carried southwards by the swift currents of glacial waters during the Quaternary
period. About 60 varieties of resins, more or less resembling Amber, have been found in
nearly all the continents of the world, but differ in physical and chemical properties.
Insects, arachnids, myriapods, and plants have been found preserved in Amber. Some traces
of mammals and birds have also been found, such as hair or feathers.
Why Does Her Amber Look Different Than Mine?
Dripping forms of Amber are usually layered and transparent. Sometimes they split to
form very thin plates in which enclosed forms are perfectly visible. The transparency of
Amber depends on its internal structure; any kind of turbidity is caused by air bubbles.
The size and position of these bubbles effects the color and degree of transparency of the
Amber. Opaque yellow or white amber has a foamy structure; the more air bubbles, the
whiter the color. In addition to brown (cognac) Amber, there are green, bluish, and black
(Jet) varieties caused by networks of tiny cracks. The color of amber is not a constant
property. Because of weathering (oxidation) and temperature, Amber darkens in time.
Talk About Estate Jewelry
Amber adornment goes back to ancient times, at least as far back as the 10th century
B.C. in Assyria. The Phoenicians, Greeks, Etruscans, and Romans also searched for the
resin. Phoenician merchants played a key role in trading Amber and distributing it in the
Mediterranean region. Although the closest Amber mines were in the Lebanon mountains and
Sicily, researchers proved that Amber from the Baltic region was most commonly in use.
Amber adornments were very popular among ancient Romans. Love of luxury in the Roman
Empire made Amber famous. It was called the "Gold of the North". Beautiful
ornaments were produced by workshops in Aquilea around the 2nd Century A.D. Traces of
Amber workshops from the 3nd and 4th centuries A.D., discovered in Poland, as well as
numerous objects found in graves and other sites, testify to the great demand for Amber
products and to the development of Amber craft in Poland. The Amber trade routes are being
accurately reconstructed by both Polish and Italian archeologists.
Forget Fabrege Eggs
Amber handicraft, initially only for Royalty and Nobles, reached the peak of its
development in the 16th and 17th century workshops in Gdansk, Elblag and Konigsberg.  Necklaces, mugs, statuettes,
table silver set in Amber, boxes, candlesticks, altars, and cabinets can still be admired.
They astound with their opulent ornamentation as well as the innumerable varieties of the
Amber used in them. These cities, situated in the areas most abundant in Amber deposits,
were the centers of Amber craft as early as the 15th century. The resin was also
considered to possess healing properties and was used medicinally in folk cultures.
Join the Trend, Now Is the Time....
The production of Amber jewelry was reborn for the masses in Poland in the 1960's, and
is experiencing renewed popularity as the year 2000 approaches. Artisans in Gdansk and
Elblag create traditional pieces, inspired by Old World craftsmen, as well as Contemporary
designs.
....This Is the Place
JAYVO DESIGNS is proud to bring you beautiful and unique Amber jewelry
handcrafted by a select group of skilled silversmiths and artisans from the very region
where ancient Amber handicraft was produced for centuries. |
