Clear Amber

Clear or transparent amber takes a high polish and is in great demand for making faceted beads. Since the era of the amber guilds of the Middle Ages, amber beads - as meticulously as any other transparent semi-precious gem - were produced in great quantities by skilled craftsmen. During the 1920s, when amber was second only to diamonds in the United States gem imports, much of the clear amber imported was in the form of faceted beads, and these can still be found in antique shops. The USA importers tended to favor clear, golden varieties, and this is the hue most often thought of when speaking of amber.

The clear or partially clear shelly amber is rarely cloudy throughout and seldom contains cloudy layers as does massive amber. Transparent specimens range in hue from almost colorless to dark reddish yellow. The "water-clear" amber is very rare. Most frequent are "yellow-clear" colors.

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Golden Gem of the Ages

Eurtmachus

Received a golden necklace, richly wrought,

And set with amber beads, that glowed as if

With sunshine.

Homer

Amber, a gemstone sought after by ancient Stone Age sun worshippers because its beautiful radiance resembled the sun's rays, well deserved the tittle, "golden gem of the ages". In the civilizations of the early Greeks and Romans, amber was so revered it was available only to nobility. Ladies of the Roman court desired it for its brilliant hue and for the protection from evil spells which it was believed to bestow upon wearer. In reverence to its talismanic powers, gladiators wore amber amulets when venturing into the Coliseum. Throughout Europe, amber was worn as protection against various and sundry illnesses.

Although ancient man and the peoples of many later civilizations treasured amber as highly as gold, little was known of its origin until the age of science brought proof that it originated from the sticky resin which flowed from prehistoric trees. Few gems match amber in respect of its mode of creation, the depth of its history and its transmission of aesthetic pleasure to man. None can match it in the range of human knowledge and scientific information its study reveals.

                                           Amber mask of Dionysos, Roman, 1st Century

Over the centuries, amber primarily came into the hands of man from the seashore and outcroppings of amber-bearing strata near the Baltic Sea; however, small deposits have been found in other places throughout the world. By the late 1800's, the Baltic amber industry had become highly organized, with extensive mining taking place in East Prussia, a region which is now part of Poland, the Kaliningrad Oblast of the Russian Federation. During the 1800s, scientists began studying the insects and other evidences of fauna and flora of the past entrapped in amber resin as it flowed from trees and primeval forests in the "Amberland" of the Baltic.

Thus, amber is valued more than ever - not only by connoisseurs and collectors, but also by paleobotanists and paleozoologists, not to mention geologists, archaeologists, anthropologists and ... women who enjoy wearing gorgeous amber jewelry.

The Curious Lore of Amber

Oh, listen in the evenings,

When the sea is restless

And sprays the shore with amber

The depths unseen palm...

Maironis (Lithuanian poet, 1862 - 1932)

For many centuries, cultures acquainted with amber wondered what this beautiful gift of nature was and how it originates. True to the customs of the times, many myths and legends resulted from attempts to explain the origin of this mysterious substance. Most of the folklore was simply carried from generation to generation by word of mouth. Some legends found their way in literature of antiquity and are preserved for us today in their poetic versions.

It was the Roman poet Ovid who recorded the prevalent Greek myth, the Tears of Heliades, attributing divine origin to amber. The Greek legend recounts the adventure of Phaethon, who grew to young manhood without knowing that one of his parents was immortal. Prevailing upon his mother, Clymene, to inform him who his father was, Phaethon was astonished to discover that he was the child of the sun god, Helios. Doubting his mother's word, he sought out the Sun God to seek proof of his parentage.

Phaethon travelled to India, where Helios' palace stood splendidly, glimmering with precious stones and gold. Upon entering the hall, the biy was blinded by light from the Sun God and found it impossible to see. But upon seeing Phaethon, Helios dimmed his radiance and commanded Phaethon to approach.

Phaethon demanded: "Helios, if you truly are my father, what proof will you give so I may be known as your son? "
"You deserve not to be disowned, my son. Whatever you ask I will grant you", promised Helios.
Thereupon the boy asked to be permitted for one day to drive the flaming chariot of the sun across the arch of the heavens.

Knowing the great dangers involved, Helios offered Phaethon other gifts, but possessing the willfulness of youth, Phaethon could not be deterred. With great reluctance, Helios gave his consent.

On the appointed day, the daughters of Helios, the Heliades, helped Phaethon yoke his father's steeds to the chariots. As dawn opened the doors of the east with the stars and moon retiring, Phaethon leaped into the golden chariot. Delightedly grasping the reins of the fiery horses, he sped off to the west. Soon the palace was far behind him as the impassioned horses sprang swiftly forward, outrunning the morning breezes.

Feeling a lighter load than usual, the horses soon realized that inexperienced hands held the reins, and they ran wild, straying far from the travelled path. Seized with fear, poor Phaethon forgot his horses' names and knew not how to guide them. He dropped the reins in terror on the height and became overwhelmed with dizziness. The uncontrolled steeds dashed on without restraint, rushing hither and thither, wherever they chose. As they approached too near the Earth, clouds began to smoke, the harvest blazed, fields were parched and the rivers dried up. Even the sea shrank because of the awful heat.

Fearing the world would be reduced to ashes, the Goddess of Earth begged Jupiter to take pity and give her relief. In an effort to save the Earth, Jupiter launched a thunderbolt at Phaethon, causing him to fall headlong and flaming into the Eridanus River. Finding him dead, the river nymphs reared a tomb to Phaethon's memory along the shore.

Lamenting Phaethon's death, his sisters, the Heliades wept bitterly. As punishment for encouraging Phaethon's reckless ride and for assisting him in yoking the steeds to the chariot, the Heliades became rooted to the spot and changed into poplar trees, from which tears continually fell. These tears became hardened by the sun and turned into amber.