Blog for Amber- Andzia's Amber Jewelry

Allura & Zodiac Amber Jewelry Collections plus Baltic Amber Film on YouTube

15% off Sitewide Sale with code ends June 5
plus an extra $10 savings special offer

Two New Collections: Zodiac & Allura
Short Baltic Amber Gemstone Documentary on YouTube!!

Dear Amber Lovers--

The ancients looked to the Milky Way for guidance about events here on Earth. Many people still have an intensely personal relationship with their sign & use it as a tool to gather insight about the world around them & the people they encounter in it. For others, not so much.

But one doesn't have to "believe" in astrology to enjoy the fantastic classical artwork featured on Andzia's new amber horoscope lockets. We are pleased to present for the first time ever all twelve signs of the Zodiac carved into an amber cameo locket using a technique called intaglio.

Actually an intaglio is the opposite of a cameo, or camina. A cameo is a positive form sculpted from material such as a seashell & affixed to a gemstone. Intaglio is just the opposite, a negative form, it is created by carefully removing material from the inside of the translucent amber, making a beautiful hollow form that is smooth along the front, but may be felt from behind. You may view the Zodiac Amber Collection here.

These were specially commissioned by Andzia. This is the first time we have been able to offer all twelve of the astrological signs & as if that weren't wonderful enough, to offer them in a nice, thin rectangle shaped locket. These are limited in quantity. There is a lot to admire in terms of artistry here & one thing we do love about this collection is how wonderfully rendered the figures are, they are not hokey or clumsy, but rather classically inspired in the ancient Greek tradition--truly inspired by the ancient world in an ancient material-- amber.

Andzia's Amber on YouTube: Baltic Amber- The Living Gemstone International Amber Association Documentary Release

Andzia's Amber Jewelry is pleased & excited to share with you a recent video release by the International Amber Association detailing the history of Baltic amber in a short documentary. The film was directed by Katarzyna Sedek & Andrzej Mielczarek.

We've cut the film into three six minute segments.

You may view them online here at Andzia's Amber You Tube account.

Baltic Amber, The Living Gemstone Part 1

Remarks by Dr. Elzbieta Sontag, scholars & experts Wieslaw Gierlowski & Barbara Kosmowska Ceranowicz plus amber master Lucjan Myrta describes his magnificent magnum opus.

     ----------         

Baltic Amber- The Living Gemstone Part 2

Explanation of how some amber colors are formed, artworks in the new Museum of Amber, stunning footage of St. Brigid's amber altar Our Lady of Czestochowa with remarks by amber master Mariusz Drapikowski. The famous Lizard of Gdansk fossil inclusion. Whimsical amber jewelry & fashions from contemporary designers, amber artworks & amber inspired sculpture. Inside the amber artist's studio. Buying amber on Mariaska Street in Gdansk. The International Amber Association's efforts to educate the public about amber & identify & stamp out forgeries. Remarks by Dr. Ewa Wagner Wysiecka on scientific amber testing.

     ---------- 

 

Baltic Amber- The Living Gemstone Part 3

The role of infrared spectrascopy & an explanation of "The Baltic Curve" & how this chemical signature is used to identify & authenticate Baltic amber. Professor Barbara Kosmowska Ceranowicz of Poland's Museum of the Earth discusses the traits of Baltic ambe. She explains why it is the most highly prized form of amber & specifically why it is the best choice for amber jewelry.

Eva Rachon discusses amber fakes & forgeries in the marketplace & explains the unique mission of the International Amber Association & it's role in The role of over 1,000 amber studios are located in the Pomerania (Polish) amber industry, employing over 10,000 workers. The annual value of it's jewelry exports all over the world is over 300 million US dollars. Historic & beautiful Gdansk has again emerged as the center of amber production, earning the name Amber Capitol of the World. The future looks exciting indeed for those who work with, study, wear & love beautiful Baltic amber. 

The International Amber Association's efforts to educate the public about amber & identify & stamp out forgeries. Remarks by Dr. Ewa Wagner Wysiecka on scientific amber testing. Final remarks by world famous scholar Wieslaw Gierlowski & concluding photo montage.

Jewel of the Earth

Amber: Jewel of the Earth

on Nova: airs February 14 at 8 pm on PBS

David Attenborough probes the mysteries of ancient life-forms perfectly preserved in amber in this stunning documentary about amber. 

Visit  http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/jewel/
to learn more, view articles about amber and to visit links---many of them new and extremely enlightening and fascinating.

Myra, one of our customers from Virginia Beach, Virginia alerted me to this yesterday.  Thank you Myra!!!

Jewel of the Earth will be shown at 8 p m on February 14 on our local PBS channel WVIA Channel 44.  Check your local PBS television station for time and date (you may easily do this on the Nova Jewel of the Earth site).

I noticed that it will also be repeated during the month--I personally am hoping to catch it more than once! 

Andzia

13 Feb 2006