Amber Jewelry Blog...

Tuesday 22nd May 2012 01:36:33 AM •

Reference: Museums: Arts and Entertainment

What is amber?

A common misconception with Amber is that it is tree sap; it is actually fossilised resin from ancient forests. The tree resin is exuded for a number of reasons such as protection for an injury to the tree, protection against biological or insect attack etc. The resin has then hardened and been preserved in the earths crust. Although Amber is regarded as a gem it is actually an organic substance that does not have the organic matter replaced by minerals. Pieces of amber are not cold and hard like most other gems. I have seen it described as 'organic plastic' to try and describe its weight and texture. Whilst I understand this description I think it takes away from the mystery and romance of this gem. Amber is also sometimes known as Succinite.

What are the different colours?

The huge variety of colours and the uniqueness of every piece is partly what makes this gem so popular. There are over 250 identified shades. The differing shades are due to the kind of tree the resin came from, the inclusions, the age of the amber and also the area in the world it comes from. Although amber deposits can be found all over the world there are only approximately 20 where it can be commercially mined.

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What are Inclusions in Amber

Inclusions are small objects which become embedded in the resin prior to it hardening and are part of what makes this gem truly fascinating. It was the very inclusion of a mosquito in a piece of amber that started the fictional theme park 'Jurassic Park' and it was at this point that Amber became more popular and fascinating to a wider audience in modern day. Because of this tree resin it means that anyone can own something that is millions of years old. This is part of its charm and romance.

A variety of small animals have been caught in these resin 'traps' such as fleas, ticks, millipedes and mosquitoes as well as items like seeds, roots, spores and Lichen. What I personally find the most fascinating are the ones that got away! Pieces of amber have been found with animal paw prints and have, on rare occasions, contained a few hairs or feathers from animals that have fled from its sticky clutches. All of these inclusions have enabled scientists to build an accurate picture of some of the plants and animals these forest contained and build more accurate pictures of earth in those times.

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Amber From the Baltic.

The class of organic gemstones is quite small, but includes some unusual varieties which are important in the gem trade, including pearl, coral, ivory and amber. All the organic gems are rather unusual, but none more than amber. Amber is the fossilized hardened resin of the pine tree, Pinus succinifera, formed mainly in the Eocene epoch of the Tertiary period, about 50 million years ago. Amber has been used since prehistoric times for jewelry, amulets and religious objects. The most prized pieces contain inclusions of insects or plants or pyrites.

Yellow, orange and brown are the most common colors for amber, though rare blue amber is found in the Dominican Republic. The term "amber" has entered the English language as the color that is halfway between yellow and orange. The clarity of natural amber ranges from transparent to opaque. Most pieces have bubbles or inclusions. When polished amber has a resinous luster.

Unlike most gemstones, amber is amorphous rather than crystalline. It is fairly soft, with a rating of 2-2.5 on the Mohs hardness scale. While it is durable enough to have survived for millions of years, it is sensitive to acids, caustic solutions, gasoline, alcohol and perfume. It will burn if ignited by a match, releasing an incense-like odor.

One of the most unique characteristics of amber is that it is exceptionally light. It has a density or specific gravity of only 1.05 to 1.09. Amber is so light that it will float in salt water. Amber's low density makes it difficult to imitate with glass or plastic, which have much higher densities. By way of comparison, the total volume of a 5 carat piece of amber is 2.5 times the volume of a 5 carat piece of zircon (one of the denser gem materials).
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What has Amber been used for?

Currently Amber is enjoying a resurgence in its popularity as a gem that can make truly unique and beautiful jewelry, but has had many varied uses in the past.

The Romans used it in coins amongst other things.
A variety of religious objects including rosaries.
Amber attracts lint with static electricity when rubbed.
In the past it is thought to protect the wearer from kidnapping and aging and keep evil spirits away.
Cure for a variety of conditions such as headaches and rheumatic pain and enhance fertility.
Amber brings the wearer good luck in a variety of situations from going to war to getting married.
Often used as grave goods for a variety of reasons.
Thrown into fires to release aromatic fragrances.

Amber has always been popular and its use can be traced back to Neolithic times. The uniqueness of the gem has inspired different cultures throughout history to marvel, wonder and sometimes kill for it. We have always loved Amber and so it was only fitting that the first web site we set-up was to sell Amber Jewelry. The article is drawn from many years of reading about amber to satisfy our curiosity. My sister and I hope this will be the first of many articles on this fascinating topic. Please visit our site http://newamberjewelry.com/home to see if you agree with us regarding the diversity of this gem.

American Museum of Magic - Privately owned collection of items related to the art of magic in Marshall, Michigan. Includes show dates, admission information, and a location map.
Art Project, powered by Google - Explore 17 museums from around the world with hundreds of artworks photographed in extremely high resolution. Also enables to create and share own collections of masterpieces.
Bauhaus-Archiv Museum of Design - The Bauhaus-Archiv Berlin researches, documents and presents the history of the Bauhaus school (1919-1933), the most important school for architecture, design and art in the 20th century.
Belvue Museum - Museum about the history of the Belgian Dynasty, especially King Baudouin, and the former medieval Palace of Emperor Charles V in Brussels.
Bona Museum & Gallery - Collection includes Korean women's personal ornaments and folk art throughout history. Located in Seoul, Korea.
Chichu Art Museum - Provides art works, visitor information, and programs. Located on Naoshima.
Hollywood Museums - A guide to the many Los Angeles-based museums related to the motion picture industry and Hollywood celebrities.
International Museum of Art & Science - General and visitor information, exhibitions, collections, calendar, and programs. Located in McAllen, Texas.
Janco Dada Museum - Featuring the works of Marcel Janco, the Dada movement, book illustration and crafts. Includes details of programs and workshops, opening hours and contact information. Located in Ein Hod, Israel. [English and Hebrew]
Logic Puzzle Museum - Provides hands-on activities in Burlington, Wisconsin. Find details of the collection, hours, events, and driving directions.
Madame Tussaud's - Provides access to Madame Tussaud's London, London Planetarium and Rock Circus as well as Madame Tussaud's in Europe and the USA.
Museum Syndicate: Experience Art and History - Featuring collections by artists, country, museum, date, or category.
Museum of Biblical Art - Scholarly museum celebrating art and the Bible. New York, NY.
Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art - Formed for collection, preservation, study, education, and display of comic and cartoon art. Includes events, educational programs, FAQs, membership details and volunteer opportunities. Located in New York City. [English and Spanish].
Museum of Mediterranean Masks - Presents the collection of series of Sardinian and Mediterranean masks. Located in Mamoida, Sardinia, Italy.
Museum of the City of New York - Exhibitions, collections, public and school programs, images, and shopping.
National Museums of Scotland - Official site of the Museums of Flight, Agriculture, Costumes, Armed Forces, the Museum of Scotland and the Royal Museum. Includes opening times, an overview of the galleries, events, and directions.
Roberson Museum & Science Center - Features 19th and 20th-century art, history, folk life, science and natural history. Includes hours, admission fees, events, programs, membership information, and directions. Located in Binghamton, New York.
Russian Imperial Wax Museum - Exhibitions feature more than 500 figures based on different themes including history, movie stars and the Guinness Book of World Records. Includes hours, admissions and locations.
Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame - Seattle, Washington, museum provides a look at exhibits, hours and location, a calendar of events, a newsletter, and membership details.
The Museum for African Art - Organizer of exhibitions and publishers of books devoted exclusively to historical and contemporary African art. New York.
The National Museums of Berlin - Consist of 16 museums, specializing in areas of European and extra-European art, archaeology and ethnology. Includes details of collections, opening hours, programs, locations and directions. [German and some English].
Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science - Features exhibits in visual arts, performing arts and science. Includes hours, descriptions of exhibits, photographs, educational programs, events and directions. Located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.