September 21, 2022

SPOTLIGHT ON LITHUANIAN CULTURE! CHAPTER 11: Baltic amber

Clear amber

Clear amber (with a yellowish tinge) makes up about 10% of all amber hues and is mostly found in small pieces. Larger pieces of clear amber are particularly rare and valuable. This color of amber could be described as ‘primary’, as this is the color of fresh tree resin. About 97% of all inclusions are found in such amber. At the end of the 18th century, almost colorless, clear amber was used in the manufacture of optical articles. In 1691, the master craftsman Christian Pershin made lenses and glasses from amber for the first time.

Yellow amber

This is the most common amber hue (about 70% of all colors). Resin flowed from the trees in the sun’s reflection, so the evaporation of the volatile components of the resin caused it to shatter, i.e. forming thousands of tiny gas bubbles. The more bubbles there are, the lighter the shade of yellow. Yellow amber is an important part of a woman’s national dress. In the past, it was used in marriage rituals, hung over a child’s bed and in the Stone Age, was used to make amulets, as yellow amber was believed to be a sun stone.

 

The information have been taken from http://www.ambergallery.lt/en/colours/

Video about amber: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okDUui0u5iw

How to check if your amber is real or not: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AZ6avWgZnc

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