Amber is a fascinating substance. It is commonly regarded as a gemstone but unlike most others it does not have a mineral origin. Deposits of resin from certain pine trees were fossilized at the bottom of the sea for millions of years creating amber. It is known for its many inclusions that ensure each piece is unique. The inclusions are generally small pieces of plant or insect matter that fossilized within the resin. Due to this amazing preservation technique archaeologists have come to regard amber as a window into biological history.
Mining Amber
Amber is collected in a number of ways. In certain areas, notably around the Baltic sea, it washes up onto the shore. Due to this amber gathering has taken a variety of opportunistic forms over the years including diving for amber or gathering it whilst on horse back with long poles and nets in marshy areas, both whimsically referred to as amber fishing. Collecting amber used to be an important source of revenue for villagers, a traditional small industry. Nowadays large scale industrial mining of large deposits has become the staple source of amber.
About 80% of the amber in the world is to be found in the Baltic regions around Russia and Poland.
Uses of Amber
The human history of amber appears to span back an exceptionally long way. There is evidence from as far back as 8000 B.C. suggesting amber has been treasured by humans. Amber items like beads, bowls and amulets from antiquity have been found as far spread as ancient South America, the North Pole, in Tutankhamen’s tomb and one of the earliest pieces in Great Briton was found in a Celtic burial mound dating from 1200 B.C. You can see examples of modern amber jewellery here http://www.findjewellery.co.uk/all/gemstone-amber/f/
Amber has been a highly desired product for as long as it has been known. The trade routes along which amber was transported, known as the ‘amber roads,’ were always fiercely contested and protected in antiquity as they guaranteed prosperity to those in control of them. Amber was known as ‘northern gold’. The Roman historian Pliny wrote that a small amount of amber was more valuable that a male slave in his prime. Nowadays it is the rarer forms of amber that have the greater price tag.
Amber is mythically associated with safety and continuity. One of the continuing uses over the years has been in the form of talismans and amulets meant to provide safety for the wearer. In India and other countries necklaces of amber are placed around children’s necks to protect them from kidnap. When rubbed with a cloth amber has electrical properties; possibly why many cultures have associated it with providing healing energy.
If you are stuck for a mother’s day gift amber is considered a good stone to give as a present to family members as it is said to strengthen bonds and help with overcoming obstacles.
Amber Jewellery
Golden orange tones are commonly associated with amber. But it is also possible to get rarer forms that are highly desired, including opaque or even blue amber. These types are considerably more expensive. Modern technology allows us to heat treat amber which means that it is widely available in a myriad of colours including yellows, greens and oranges.
Today there is a thriving jewellery industry based around amber products. Although only about 20% of all mined amber is suitable for use in jewellery. Commonly it is set into silver, but there are now luxurious gold and amber products available as well. Due to its unique qualities and range of natural and beautiful colours it remains as popular today as it has ever been.
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