Amber is one of Nature’s most remarkable organic gemstones. Appreciated around the world for thousands of years for its many qualities, this intriguing gem is actually the fossilized resin of trees, both deciduous and coniferous. This resin has undergone processes of devolatilization, polymerization and hardening under a variety of geochemical conditions, which have made it much harder than its original soft and sticky form that protected the wounds on the trees. The oldest dated amber is about 230 million years old and comes from the Italian Dolomites, but we only find crumbs of a few millimeters there.
Dating back to the time of the dinosaurs, the best known amber is from the Cretaceous period and is found in Myanmar. Prized in Asia, this amber is about 99 million years old. The slightly older Lebanese amber (130 million years old) is famous for its interesting inclusions. Much younger varieties, such as Dominican and Mexican ambers from Chiapas (15-20 million years old), are also popular on the market. However, in the Western world at least, the most famous and longest used amber is Baltic amber from Central Europe.
Baltic amber (succinite) is a resin of coniferous trees from the Eocene epoch, and its deposits have been dated at 38-48 million years. Early humans pointed to the Baltic Sea as the source of this material. Today, it is found in deposits in many other places in central and eastern Europe, from eastern Germany, the Baltic coast with the largest open pit mine on the Sambian Peninsula (Russia), eastern Poland (Lublin area) and western Ukraine. Ice ages caused the movement of large land masses and erosion, which is why amber is found today in secondary deposits in many places in Poland and Europe.
Gdansk, however, is recognized as the amber capital of the world. Situated on the Baltic Sea, it is a city with unique links to this stone. The history of Gdansk and amber date back to prehistoric times, when the stone was collected and used by local communities.
More than 2,000 remains of ancient amber processing workshops have been found around the city. The oldest finds from this period date back more than 6,000 years.
Amber was then exported to the Mediterranean and Asia Minor, where today archaeologists find it in excavations, confirming the global trade in ancient times. The finest masterpieces from 1600-1700 were created in Gdansk and sold throughout Europe.
In contemporary Gdansk, there are many companies and independent designers in the jewelry industry (Poland ranks third in Europe in the production of silver jewelry) who place an emphasis on amber.
Finding Amber
Fishing for amber on the beaches of the Baltic Sea is a fascinating and popular activity, especially in Poland and Lithuania, where the Baltic Sea is a rich source of this precious stone. It used to be the main way of harvesting the raw material.
Fishing is most effective in winter and early spring, when storms are more frequent and cold sea water has the greatest density, making it easier for light lumps of amber to move around. Significant amounts of amber rest in deposits beneath the seabed and, when they are washed out by sea currents, they are discarded on the beach along with a mixture of seaweed, sticks and marine debris.
UV torches can be helpful at night because amber shows fluorescence under ultraviolet light, making it easier to find. In Poland, the best beaches for prospecting are in Pomerania, as well as others near Gdansk. Similar methods have been used for centuries by the inhabitants of the entire southern coast of the Baltic Sea and the eastern (particularly Danish) part of the North Sea.
The Polish city of Gdansk, situated on the Baltic Sea, is recognized as the amber capital of the world.
Mining amber from secondary Holocene deposits is an important way of extracting this valuable raw material. The method of leaching it directly from the ground using pressurized water was invented. Released from the sediments of former fossil beaches, amber rises to the surface with a mixture of water and sand, where it is scooped up by miners. The hydraulic method requires the removal of the soil layer, due to the need to protect the environment and rehabilitate the area after mining. And, in the case of amber, environmentally responsible mining is promoted and desired by clients.
The Museums
The museums in Gdansk not only provide wonderful samples of amber, but also conduct important scientific research along with other institutions. A very unique museum on a global scale is the Museum of Amber Inclusions, operating at the Faculty of Biology of the University of Gdansk. The permanent exhibition Life in an Amber Forest features particularly beautiful arthropods that are perfectly preserved in fossilized resin. The museum’s main attraction is a diorama, a three-dimensional model of an amber forest on a 1:1 scale. The museum staff also runs a workshop where they scientifically process and polish the amber that contains animals inclusions.
The second most important museum is the Gdansk Amber Museum, located in a medieval mill erected by the Teutonic Knights around 1350, which is one of the largest historical buildings in Gdansk. Visitors learn about the process of amber formation and can see nearly 300 varieties of resin of various ages and colors, from all over the world. The museum primarily presents historical objects created in Gdansk hundreds of years ago as well as contemporary designs of amber jewelry, which differ significantly from stereotypical beads.
Treatments and Testing
Like any gemstone, amber is also subjected to various types of treatments and enhancements. The fun fact is that the first reports of modifying Baltic amber date back 2000 years to the Roman author, Pliny the Elder. At that time, people discovered that the transparency and color of amber could be improved by boiling it in fat. And, today’s methods have remained similar, although modern equipment is used to obtain more predictable results. Other processes are now also used to alter the appearance and durability of amber.
Testing methods of amber have also been modernized. Destructive techniques such as the hot needle test are no longer employed in laboratories. Instead, typical gemological testing methods are used, among them are magnification, visible and UV light and infrared spectrophotometry (FTIR), which is crucial for identification. It is also important to build up a collection of raw material reference samples from different locations, as well as analyses of market available modifications.
Amber Art and Jewelry
A fascinating material with a rich history, amber continues to inspire artists and designers. Its unique properties, including its softness, aroma, and the animal/insect inclusions it often contains, have made it a prized and easy to work with gemstone for thousands of years.
From ancient inspiration to modern art, Gdansk is today a center of amber design. The city is famous for the Amberif Fair, held twice a year, where the latest jewelry and amber art collections are presented.
This event attracts designers and companies from all over the world, showing how versatile amber is as a material.
Gdansk designers combine tradition with modernity to create innovative designs. They use the natural forms of this organic gem as a starting point for their creations, while experimenting with new techniques and styles. Thanks to the lightness of amber, artists can create both monumental objects and delicate, filigree ornaments.
In the hands of contemporary artists, amber is given new life. From traditional jewelry to avantgarde art installations, this ancient material continues to delight and surprise.
Gdansk artists prove that, despite its long history, amber remains a material with unlimited possibilities in the world of modern art and jewelry design.