Photo Pest: World Capital of Amber

Sunday, September 8, 2024

World Capital of Amber

I won't lie. I was ready for something pretty after two consecutive morning seminars in Polish history. The Museum of Amber, just around the corner from our very comfortable and conveniently located Ibis Hotel, fit the bill. A Sicilian master of the trade carved this intricate religious medallion, called a Shepard's Bow, from fossilized tree resin in the 17th century.

But Gdańsk, with its proximity to the Baltic Sea, has attracted amber hunters and artisans since the 14th century. The latter, if they were skilled enough, became members of guilds that earned them a good living. Amber comes in big sizes

. . . and small, some of which may be 60 million years old.

One floor of the recently modernized, tri-level museum, located in a grain mill that dates back to the Middle Ages, explores the natural history of amber; another displays its mostly decorative uses.

Animated cartoons explain how nature produced amber from fallen trees that released their sap into the Baltic's cold waters.

Plant matter and insects were often trapped inside the sticky sap as you can see in this magnified photo

. . . and, in this small piece, a spider, actual-size.

Beachcombers, lepidopterists and amber hunters share the same obsessive qualities--and equipment.

After visiting the upper gallery, I emerged with a definite case of amber fever which I satisfied, at no small cost, in the gift shop. All the pieces below are of recent vintage, many produced by artisans in Sopot.