The Ins and Outs of Amber
Amber is one of those naturally occurring elements that have been fascinating people since the day it was discovered years ago. Perhaps one of the main reasons why people are so attracted to amber is because of its color and seemingly (at that time) inexplicable ways of existing. The pull of amber was so strong that at one point it was said than an amber sculpture of man, no matter how small it is was more expensive than a slave (this was during the apex of slave trading in the world). Amber has found many uses, from jewellery to accessories and even in varnishes. In the modern day Amber was perhaps catapulted into fame by its use in the widely popular movie Jurassic Park. At present the fascination towards amber may not be as strong as it once was but, it continues on none the less.
How Amber is formed
Amber is a fossil resin that is greatly known for its color as well as several other qualities. It is not a mineral although it is referred to as a gemstone, most of the amber that is found today ranges from 30 to 90 million years old. Amber basically undergoes two states before it becomes the amber that we know today.
Amber starts out in Resin form. Resin is an organic material secreted by trees and they secrete it in response to any irritation, disease or physical injury. Once enough of the resin is pooled, it begins to harden. Alluding to the Jurassic Park film, it is at this stage where it can encase whatever insect or plant matter it comes in contact with. The hardening process of amber is called Polymerization. Amber is either formed outside of trees or within its cavities.
Amber then undergoes its second stage where it becomes a copal. A Copal is resin that has gotten to a point where it is hardened but not hard enough. If left to continue to harden and its natural oils to disappear, it then forms into the amber that we know today. The process of amber formation takes up to over 20 million years. And therefore any inclusions found within the amber, be it insects or plants are effectively a part of the past. That is the reason why amber is often referred to as a ‘window into the past’.
A common misconception of amber is that it is formed out of tree sap and that tree sap is what causes the formation of resin that subsequently forms amber. That is not the case since resin is a completely different substance from tree sap.
Amber is found all over Europe and mostly in the Baltic Regions where ‘Baltic Amber’ comes from. Other source locations of Amber include that of Ukraine, other parts of Europe and the Americas.
A Beautifully Scented Stone
Perhaps, one of the top reasons why men in the past have been drawn to amber is the fact that it is beautifully scented. Amber in its solid state gives off a faint sweet smell of pine. When heated amber burns like incense and was probably used with that purpose in mind. There are imperfect amber formations - those that are foggy and unclear because of a high degree of contamination. Back then it was used for the purpose of making an area to smell woody fresh.
Amber as Jewellery
Amber is a semi-precious stone that has been revered by mankind for centuries. It has taken such an important place not only in the world of jewellery making (where most of the world’s amber production is allocated) but also in science where inclusions found within amber have given scientist a very pristine look into the past.
Proof of amber jewellery can be seen from amber beads that were created back around 11,000 BC. The earliest traces of amber jewellery that were found were simple in make. It was only a few thousand years later that the jewellery started to take much more complex details.
The trade of amber was so extensive that it was even discovered as far as the North Pole. Around 4000 to 8000 years BC, amber craftsmanship was so extensive that decorative amber was found in the form of small sculptures of animals and people. Other than being decorative, amber was also revered for supposed medicinal qualities as well as its connection to religion and worship.
During the Roman Empire Amber was so popular that the Amber Route was established and helped to move the Trade of Amber onwards. Amber is known to have great significance for the Greeks, the Romans, and other civilizations because it was believed to be jewellery that is ‘godly’ in nature. Because of the color of Amber it was associated with the god of the sun and other deities associated with the heavenly body. The demand for amber was so strong that during the time that Nero was reigning, amber was brought from the Baltic Coast in such large quantities.
During the 11th Century, Amber jewellery also reflected the mood of the era. It was during this time that Christianity was introduced and most of the amber jewellery produced consisted of amber crosses. It was also during this time that amber necklaces and rings were made in large numbers.
The Golden Age of Amber is considered to be during the 17th century. It is in this period that artist created almost anything they can think of out of amber. Amber during this time was not only limited to jewellery but it was made into furniture, statues, jewellery boxes and others. Amber in this period was for the wealthy and royalty alone.
In the early part of the 17th century the famed Amber Room was started. It was commissioned by King Frederick I of Prussia for a Palace in Berlin. The amber room was completed and installed for the summer residence of the Russian Tsar in 1716. The Amber Room Managed to survive until its mysterious disappearance in the Second World War. Before its disappearance, the Amber Room was considered by many as the 8th Wonder of the World. It was because of the immense interest in amber craftsmanship that the attention towards amber jewellery was effectively eclipsed.
Amber in Science
The Role of amber in science is mostly attributed to the age of this resource as well as its ability to give distinct view of small scale animal life and plant life millions of years back. Contrary to popular belief, the inclusions in amber are not exact preservations. They are often just hollow shells of the animal or plant that was once trapped in the resin. The resin has also changed and seeped into the cellular cells of those that have been trapped within it.
Modern Uses of Amber
Today, the mass of the amber that is found in various regions are made into jewellery and a few decorative ornaments. Most of the time, the amber that is used in decorative purposes are those that have substantially sized fossilized inclusions within it. Other than that, amber is generally made into pendants for necklaces. They are sometimes turned into beads and strung together to form bracelets. Some pieces of amber end up in rings and earrings. Amber stones are usually set in semi precious metals to create elaborate necklaces, earring and bracelets. Amber continues to remain in demand and will continue to be used in jewellery and in creative display items.
Fakes
There is a lot of fake amber jewellery that is sold in the market today. Most of the time, fakes are sold in online stores since this effectively eliminates the opportunity for the client to check it personally if it is genuine or not. That is the main reason why it is advised that amber jewellery be bought in person so that the customer has the chance to examine the piece for authenticity.
All sorts of materials have been used as amber substitutes. The list ranges from copal (early form of amber) to plastic and resin. These materials are of lower value than authentic amber. They have come to be because of the great demand for amber in the jewellery world. Fake amber or substitution amber is not only found in jewellery stores, but it can also be seen sold in ethnic areas. The technology for creating fake amber is so good that at first glance, it is hard to identify a fake one from real amber. Those interested in purchasing amber should hold some degree of knowledge of the processes in identifying fake amber. It is important to keep in mind that counterfeiters are getting better and better on this craft.
Amber for the Future
Amber, being the nature that it is, is a non renewable resource. It means that there are a finite number of amber pieces that can be found in the world today. The ’semi-precious’ stone will continue to be appreciated for its beauty and science will undoubtedly continue to find more and more new information about the past with the help of amber.
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