Gem and Ornamental

AMBER AND COPAL 35- - -Figure 1,37 Bear and webfooted bird. Found separately in Jutlmd,Denmark. Dated 680M000 BC. N M MMM qf Dmmd.ing to the gods. The objects found in the bogs are much better prehuhose fwnd in earth, and though mdy dark red-brown, they stilldisplay some clarity. The h i s dug out of graves die comprmsedchocolate powck and have lost all their former ghy,~ological digs have shown that by the Bronae Age 3000 yemlater, there was less amber around in the north, but instead there wascopper. This was imported together with salt, and traded for amberwhich was becoming popular further south. It h been found, for-pie, in Greek graves dating hm tbi~ time.The Romans loved umber, They imported large quantities of roughmated, which they cut and polished and even turned on lathes intheir own w&hops on the Adriatic coast. Wearing amber was strictlya fign of smtus, md its use was regulated. Documentation exists thatit was worn by gladiators, and there is also a suggestion that it wasused to adorn horses on ceremd occasions.By the third and fourth centuries AD amber was agaiu being worn inthe north, and the V i had their own workshops. During all thisrime it was a sign of wealth, and was dso believed to bring luck.Little was used in the Middle Ages, either at home or as an exportmateriarl, but it kame popular again in Europe in the fourteenthcentury, when there was a great demand for rosaries. Collection ofamber hnn the eastern shores of the Baltic was strictly regulated andanything found belonged to the local duke. Stealing was instantlypunishable by hanging. The rough material was sent to the cities forworking, and amber guilds developed in the cities. The guilds kept tightcontrol on the whole business of working and selling the material. Themost famous of the amber cities and the one that probably producedthe most beauw work was -berg.