Hi,
I like the facetted beads most. I do a different test. I rub the bead (wollen cloth is best for hat) and then hold the heated peace above a little peace of paper napkin (just as big as a penny). The amber bead is kind of magnetic and you can lift the paper with it.
Does anybody know this and do the same test?

Greatings
Renaid

Amber is a much-loved material! The first time I ever saw Jamey was at an amber lecture of his in 1983. He is away from his computer for a few days. Below is the url for his Yahoo amber group. I suggest joining that and reading all the information within it's folders, as well as doing a search on this site for amber, going back about 500 days. And, if one takes the time to read ALL of bcn, including the archives, one would be pretty informed about many beads and materials. I think Tasart did that when he first found us a couple of years ago.

Hi Joyce,

Thanks for the plug. My Group actually does have a lot to offer in its archive and dialogues.

The mottled amber beads seen here look like Chinese beads called "root amber" by the Chinese and by collectors. I only know it to come from China, where it was exploited some hundreds of years ago, and that began to occur again in the 1990s. The literature says there used to be a mottled amber from Rumania--but I have not seen specimens. I am reasonably sure the beads shown are new Chinese beads.

The static test for amber was known as far back as Roman times, 2000 years ago. It was heavily promoted in the 19th century by British and American collectors. However, once phenolic plastic imitations were introduced (1926)--because these will also take a negative static-electric charge--the value of the rub test has been totally negated.

Rubbing "amber" to make an aroma is the first step in identifying its actual material. Phenolic plastics quickly make the smell of carbolic acid--a rather unpleasnat plastic smell. After about a minute (you MUST time it), real amber will exude the aroma of pine resin.

Please refer to the posted advice at Amber Forever for more helpful information.

Jamey

Hello Jamey,

Let me get it straight--are you really accusing the Heritage of selling fake amber in their gift shop, then handing out certificates claiming it was excavated from Kalinangrad?

Nancy

http://www.tdctrade.com/imn/02010301/jewellery08.htm

Hi Nancy,

Your attitude toward me is very polarizing and counterproductive.

I have not written anything about the Hermitage..., nor about their amber, and nor about the issue of selling "fake amber." I don't know where you get this stuff. Are you looking for a fight, or an issue to press?

I am here to share information. I will gladly tell you (or anyone) anything I know. However, do you know the old adage about flies and honey? You will get more out of me if you don't insult my intelligence nor challenge me about untrue or unrealistic things.

The link you post here does not present accurate information. It cannot be. The amount of amber that is excavated or recovered in Russia is pretty small in comparison to that from the Baltic States, Poland, and Germany. In the 1970s and '80s, the ONLY amber that came out of Russia was pressed amber—and I am not totally convinced it was locally manufactured. This pressed amber is still available, and still passed-off as "natural" and as "antique." In the 1980s, when the Gorbachevs made a state visit to the US, Mrs. Gorbachev gave Mrs. Reagan a necklace of amber as a gift..., and it was cheap Russian pressed amber....

If by some fact of circumstance typical Chinese "root amber" actually comes from somewhere in Russia, that would be information worth having. It is certainly not impossible. However, I would wonder why so much is seen in China, and so little is known from Russia.... Root amber is not shown in the pictorial of your link. This is the ONLY topical thing I discussed in the reply I posted to Joyce, that you are taking exception to.

JDA.

April 2022

Since the time the above dialogue was presented, I have come to understand that "Chinese root amber" is actually from the island of Borneo. I've been to Borneo twice, but I have not found a geologist to consult with about this material. And, in more recent years, very similar ambers have been discovered and exploited in Sumatra (less than ten years ago). One can suppose they are probably geologically similar, since Borneo and Sumatra are reasonably close, in terms of a global perspective.

August 2023

In the intervening years it has been revealed that the source of "root amber," as exploited by Chinese manufacturers, is BORNEO (!).

On my two trips to Borneo (2010 and 2015) I had hoped to consult with anyone who might know more about this amber (geologically and historically), but I was not able to find anyone who was conversant.

Also, about five years ago, a new source of SE Asian amber has been discovered and exploited. This is located in Sumatra--and the material has much in-common with Borneo root amber; including material that is a combination of dark translucent resin and pale opaque resin. They are calling their material "zebra amber," because it tends to be layered and present "stripes"--rather than being blotchy (like Chinese/Borneo root amber).

January 2024.

In more-recent years it has been determined (and I have discussed it multiple times) that"Chinese root amber" actually is found in Borneo. I learned this before 2015, because at that time I hoped to meet a local geologist who might know something about the material, since I could not find any references to it apart from vague Chinese-context remarks. It's a curious thing that nearly no other country or culture has used it in ornamentation (unless this is something so esoteric that it's not common knowledge). I have not yet seen or heard of a Borneo artifact made from this amber--though it would be very surprising if there were not any.

So, a Russian origin (which would be mostly Baltic amber anyway) seems very unlikely.

Also, for the past six years a new Indonesian source of amber, in Sumatra, has been discovered and exploited. Like Borneo root amber, the Sumatran material is probably also Miocene, and from about 40,000,000 years ago. It can be two mottled or mixed-together resinous materials, like Borneo amber--though the conformations are different. The Sumatran sellers are calling this stuff "zebra amber." I was buying Indo-amber (if we may call it that) yearly at Tucson, from the time it was first marketed abroad, over three years. And once online. And, from a Sumatran manufacturer, I have bought a long necklace of "red amber" beads (that is typically a turbid but somewhat translucent orangey color, appearing brown in reflected light). But I have seen specimens that appear to be a more-true-red.

P.S.--I had forgotten the two previous replies to this dialogue, and they did not materialize at the time I composed the THIRD reply here. I'm sorry for the repetition!

Russian Amber: yes, I was also happy to find this nice strand, my first non-ethnic amber beads. I hope some day they will shape a beautiful necklace...
Largest bead is 16,5 mm.

Um, arent Russians "Ethnic" then?

(This is a tease not a criticism!)

Stefany

yesterday meaningfull, today useless!