Amber | The History of Amber

Amber, which has been used by artisans for centuries to create amber jewelry and unique works of art that survive today as museum pieces, has its origin in the Eocene Epoch. About 45 million years ago, trees that one 19th century botanist called "amber-giving" pines deposited resin in what is now Scandinavia and the Baltic. This resin was carried by waterways to the Baltic coastline, where the largest deposits of amber have been discovered. At the bottom of the sea over the next 40 million years, this resin was fossilized and became amber. About two million years ago a glacier shifted, which brought the amber to the surface of the earth where it is mined today.

The pine forests depositing the resin that became amber grew in a warm, subtropical climate that was friendly to many plant and animals species. Many of these species were preserved in what we call "inclusions" in amber. "Inclusions" are needles, twigs, leaves, flowers, pollens, seeds, flowers and oak hairs that became trapped and preserved in the resin that became amber millions of years later. Fossilized amber has also entombed small insects, arachnids, and occasionally other small animals (Fig. 1, 2 to the right). Feathers, hairs, and occasional paw prints reveal additional information about the life forms existing during the Eocene Epoch. Evidence of amber use by ancient Central and South European cultures dates from the 13th millennium B.C. in the form of amulets used in hunter's magic to ensure safe and prosperous hunting, as well as pendants and beads that demonstrate a decorative use that has survived through modern times. Amber is a mineral of many names, such as jantar, good stone, sacred stone, gold of the north, and Baltic gold. The Roman historian Pliny wrote: "Among luxury goods it is valued so high that an amber human figurine, no matter how small, costs much more than men (slaves) in their prime". By the Mesolithic period (8300-4500 BC) amber craftsmanship had developed to the point of including small sculptures of animals that have been discovered in Denmark and Poland. By 1700 BC, the trade of decorative amber items had reached as far as the region of the North Pole. A cup found in a burial mound at Hove near Brighton, Great Briton dates from 1200 BC. The grave of Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamen contained amber relics. Amber necklaces have been recovered from Etruscan graves dating from 500 BC. (Fig. 3). Fig. 3

Amber jewelry was very popular during the Roman Empire, and the "Amber Route" that developed for the amber trade fostered social and economic development in the parts of Europe to which it extended. The most famous expedition of amber occurred during Nero's reign, when a Roman equites sent to the Baltic Coast to acquire amber brought back so much of the gem that an entire stage for gladiator fights was made of amber. Fig. 3 above is a late Bronze Age amber jewelry necklace from a burial place near the Castle Malbork (Fig. 4). Fig. 4

Amber Production
By the turn of the 11th century, Gdansk had become the center of amber production. Reflecting the introduction of Christianity, amber crosses were popular during this time, as well as necklaces, rings, and pieces for board games. In 1308, Pomerania and Gdansk were seized by the Teutonic Knights, who employed amber craftsmen to create works of art out of amber that would be sent as official gifts to the royal courts of Europe. Engravings form the 1600's show Balga and Zuvininkai castles ( Fig. 5) where the Teutonic Knights stored uncut amber. In the 1500's Duke Albert, the last Grand Master of the

Teutonic Order, was commissioning items such as beer-mugs, caskets, mirror frames, chessboards and cutlery to be crafted from amber for use by the court and to be given as official gifts. Fig. 5

The 17th century is considered the golden age of the amber craft. During this period, distinguished artists created caskets, statues, chandeliers, and furniture laid with gold, silver, and amber for royalty and the wealthy to have in their homes and to give as gifts. In 1701, the Prussian King Frederick I commissioned Gdansk architect Andreas Schluter and Copenhagen amber artist Gottfried Wolffram to create an entire room of amber for the Berlin Palace (Fig. 6). The room was not completed in Frederick's lifetime and was abandoned by his successor as too expensive. It was acquired in 1716 by the Tsar of Russia as an official gift, and ultimately completed and installed at the summer residence in Tsarskoye Selo. The Amber Room, sometimes regarded as the eighth wonder of the world, survived for over 200 years before disappearing mysteriously at the end of World War II from the castle in Konigsberg where it was being displayed. Luxurious, albeit less grand works of amber during the 18th century included phials, boxes (Fig. 7), jewelry, walking stick handles. Fig. 6

Fig. 7

In addition to its decorative uses, amber has been used for various medicinal purposes since the Roman Empire, when it was used to treat treating fever and tonsillitis. Copernicus used amber as one of the ingredients of his cordial mixture. At the turn of the 20th century, one of the most popular types of amber product was the cigarette holder with an amber mouthpiece ( Fig. 8). Amber was also used to decorate cigarette and cigar cases as well as dagger handles. Konigsberg was the center of amber craftsmanship for the first half of the 20th century. After World War II however, the state borders changed, cutting Germany off from what had been the main source of rough amber. During the latter half of the 20th century amber craftsmanship has come full circle and once again, Gdansk, Poland is the epicenter for amber art (sugarbowl c. 2002 Fig. 9). Fig. 8

Fig. 9

Amber | Amber Mining & Fishing

The Amber Coast

Amber is a fossilized resin from coniferous (pine) trees that has been collected by people living along the shores of the Baltic Sea since the Bronze Age. This region of the Baltic Sea became known as the "Amber Coast" (Fig. 2). The earliest evidence that amber was known about, mined, and worked with in the Baltic Sea/Gdansk area dates from between 8000 - 4000 B. C. The locals produced amber amulets in the shape of animals, deities, and hero figurines for cult purposes, and believed it was imbued magical power. Fig. 2

Amber Fishing
During prehistoric times, wind and waves coming ashore from the Baltic Sea formed what is known as the Curonian Spit on Poland and Lithuania's famous "Amber Coast." Running southwest to northeast, the spit varies in width from 430 yards to 2 miles and is sixty miles long. Along this shore, banks of pine trees and sand dunes separate the Baltic from the Curonian Lagoon. For thousands of years, amber that has been pulled up from the ocean floor by strong tides and fierce storms has been deposited along this shorline.

In the marshy regions along this coast, where the tides were unpredictable, amber was collected on horseback by "amber riders" who used poles and nets called "amber-catchers." There were also "amber divers" who carried a wooden spade to loosen amber from the sea floor. The earliest evidence of an amber workshop in Gdansk dates back to the 9th and 10th century AD. Local dukes held an exclusive right to "fish" and mine amber, and the amber fishermen had to obtain an amber-fishing license from the city government. The illustration to the right ( Fig. 1) showing an amber-fisher is from 'Succini prussici physica et civilis historia' in 1697. Archaeological remains of the Truso Settlement, a 9th century amber colony, still exist today and can be seen at the Municipal Museum of Elblag. Discovered in 1982, the Baltic seaport of Truso was situated on the amber route close to Lake Druzno and Elblag, just east of the Vistula River. The Truso Settlement preserved evidence of the oldest amber artistic products and traces of the lost

culture of these Old-Prussian, Polish and Scandinavian artisans. The "Amber Coast" near Elblag (Fig. 3) is shown below. Fig. 3

Amber stores were heavily guarded by the watchful supervision of the local potentate's "Beach Master," and the unauthorized collection of amber could merit capital punishment. Several coastal villages were adorned with gallows awaiting captured amber-thieves. During this time period Gdansk was the center of European amber craftsmanship. Unfortunately, the Teutonic monks desired to occupy Gdansk. When they finally achieved control the city, on November 14th 1308, they systematically murdered many of the inhabitants and burnt their houses. Historians have named the event "The Gdansk Massacre". Needless to say, these conditions were not very conducive to the development of amber crafts. The amber market crashed, and Polish craftsmen were not permitted to work at their craft. Yet, amber art in Gdansk flourished again under the rule of Casimir the Jagiellonian, who bestowed the city with land rich in amber deposits. The first amber guild was established in Gdansk in 1477.

Amber Mining
In the Kurpie region of Poland, amber became a integral factor in the ethnographic identity of its people. Amber working became a means of living for the majority of the inhabitants of the region. Thus, amber gathering and working took its place alongside bee-keeping, hunting, and fishing, and became a common occupation. The Kurpie (15th century) people gathered the amber from their own land using simple tools that were specially designed for the task. They would find amber in lakes, rivers, and streams, as well as while digging ditches and wells or ploughing their fields. Amber is still mined in the same region ( Fig. 4), however the primitive hand tools have been replaced with modern digging equipment. Fig. 4

The Amber Trade

Between 400 B. C. and 30 AD, Europe was dominated by the Celts. Celtic tribes spread over vast geographic regions throughout Europe reaching Italy and the Balkans on the Adriatic coast. Amber was always present in their culture. Celtic merchants revived the old amber routes and forged new ones linking Italy and Iliria to the "Amber Coast" of the Southern Baltic Sea. The importance of the amber trade routes for Europe went far beyond the sphere of economy. Journeys along these routes spread knowledge of other cultures, and trade became a pretext to get to know and understand other cultures and civilizations. Between the 10th and 15th centuries AD, the wide variety of amber goods included beads, amulets, dice, pawns, pendants, and rings ( Fig. 5). Amber crafts made by Gdansk craftsmen were meant for both the local market and markets in cities throughout Polish territory. Raw amber as well as finished goods were transported to Flanders. When Pomerania was seized by the Teutonic Order in the 14th century, amber became exceptionally sought after. After the great baptism of Gdansk by St. Adalbert the assortment of amber crafts was broadened to include amber crosses. Fig. 5

Gdansk lies on the crossroads of both ancient and contemporary amber trade routes which traversed between different European cities and cultures along the major rivers such as the Vistula. Perhaps no civilization was fonder of amber than that of Rome. By the first century AD, Roman demand for amber was so great that it drove the creation of "Amber Routes" from the Mediterranean to various points along the Baltic coast. All routes led south towards the Black Sea, reaching Rome via the Roman Aquilea tract and Greece via the Hellenic Alexandropolis route. The

Vistula amber route linked the Gdansk Coastal area with the Mediterranean countries and was travelled as early as the 5th century B.C. Trading in raw amber generated a sizeable income. Amber was exported to Amsterdam, Antwerp, Bruges , Kln, Lbeck, Nuremberg, and Venice. The art works produced at this juncture included sacred religious sculptures as well as practical objects such as boxes, candle holders, caskets, clocks, picture frames, and tableware.

Historical Links
Amber Mining & Culture

Museum of Kurpie Culture Kurpie Cultural Information History of Myszyniec Gdansk.pl - Information on Gdansk Gdansk.pl - Information on Elblag