Here we are, trapped in the amber of the moment.
There is no why.
There is no why.
―Kurt Vonnegut
I have a thing for stones and bones, and I like to think it might be from my Native American DNA. One of my favorites is amber, petrified tree resin, prized for its natural beauty since Neolithic times. Amber has been around forever as jewelry, but did you know since it is a resin, it can be melted down and is used as an ingredient in perfumes, and a healing agent in folk medicine?
One aspect I like most about amber, is since it started out as tree resin, many pieces have a bit of fossilized flora or fauna embedded inside. Little lacy seed pods are encased in my amber earring, just like a time capsule, millions of years old.
About 90 percent of the world's extractable amber is found in Kaliningrad Oblast of Russia on the Baltic Sea. Pieces are amber are torn from the seafloor, washed ashore by waves, collected by hand, dredging or diving. Shades of amber range from almost clear to nearly black, the transparent pieces being the most prized.
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I like the one third from the left bottom row...I've had my eye on a piece at "Harmony" and one of these days I will indulge.
ReplyDeleteI love amber! It's history. The color is amazing! Whenever I see amber I always think about the movie Jurassic Park.
ReplyDeleteI love the pieces with insects caught inside... but beware; much fakery around these days.
ReplyDeleteI have a pair of amber earrings as well. I have never inspected then closely. I will go get them and tell you what I see. Wait one minute! I'm back. Nothing in one but something in the other. I will have to take a photo and send to you! Thanks for making me curious!
ReplyDeleteI loved the enlarged photo. so ,much simple beauty in there.
ReplyDeleteI remember traveling in Estonia a few years back and the shops were filled with amber. Really beautiful, and expensive.
ReplyDeleteI bought a large quantity of unremarkable amber once - just to use as incense - it makes wonderful incense when burnt on charcoal.
ReplyDeletevonnegut's words resinate (typo intended!) hugs . . . steven
ReplyDeleteYour amber earrings are beautiful! I love the warm color and earthiness of amber. And, of course, I think of the movie, Jurasic Park, which I have watched with my grandson at least 100 times.
ReplyDeleteI love your amber earrings! It's so cool that you can see the little bits and pieces of times past in them. One of my favorite rings is an amber ring that I bought at the Field Museum in Chicago. It has a bunch of little sparkly things in it.
ReplyDeleteAmber always makes me think of Jurassic park, too : )
Tom, charcoal and amber...what a lovely mix...!
ReplyDeleteCro, yes a lot of fake plastic amber out there...I have a few pieces...I mix it with the real...
ReplyDeleteand I am sure you must know of the Russian (I think) room made of amber walls. I have a small amber stone in a ring with something dark in it. a bug? (then of course there is the novel Forever Amber)
ReplyDeleteAs a child I was constantly drawn in my "Big Book of Nature" to the photograph of the prehistoric fly trapped in amber. Perhaps that was the start of my compassion for those remembered primarily for their errors.
ReplyDeleteI, too , totally love amber and picked some little pieces up in Poland many years ago.
ReplyDeleteNever realized the amber came in so many colors. God, the Master blender of color left so much for us of which I know nothing. Shame.
ReplyDeleteOn bottom left is nearly the color of my French violin (Chanot, 1856).
And those rocks! As a barefoot Ohio mud-bank river rat for three years, I was always on the lookout for the perfect flat stone.
One quick throw,
six jumps or so,
and my treasure
gone forever
Love your blog, Tess--as always.
Muah.
PEACE!
Dear Tess: The 3D effect of the seed pod in the earring is quite incredible. I love amber; did not know about the incense burning potential. I'd have to wonder what the fragrance of amber; could anyone describe? One would think it'd be pretty expensive to burn semi-precious anything!
ReplyDeletecromulent post to say the least
ReplyDeleteI find amber fascinating!
ReplyDeleteI don't wear much jewelry, but have an amber ring because it facinates me. You don't have to wear it to treasure it.
ReplyDeleteAmber is embedded in my Latvian tradition, I have quite a stash, also a large piece of antique amber from China with a large scorpion in it. I have always loved our clear Baltic amber but the clear dark red BlackSea amber suits my skin colouring much better. Must be from my Kazakhstani paternal relatives.
ReplyDelete