Hi Susan,

I can't tell much about the carved pendant from the image provided. I have no idea how the work may have been done - laser technology may even be possible.

Below is a link to the site search for "amber" going back 600 days - there are 152 messages. Not every one may be relevant to your interests, but it is still a very handy function. Please feel free to experiment with the search feature and feel free to read the entire forum, some members actually have done this. This is why we try to keep the entire thing saved.

And one more search that is eventually relevant to anyone interested in amber, due to the visual similarities and the fact that many dealers...get the two materials..."confused".

Hi Susan,

Amber is one of my specialties.

Joyce and I have agreed that in the near future I will compose an informational article about amber, that will go up here.

For some information about "cherry amber" read the posts gleaned from recent messages archived here, via the link below. (I did a search on "cherry amber" encompassing 300 to 30 days ago.)

Your piece does appear to be carved on the back side—and the description also says that. It is certainly not "cherry amber," and that's a name that should be discarded. The question may be if your piece is really amber (?). Perhaps is it—but MANY things that are called amber are not; and most things that are called "cherry amber" are not amber.

Nevertheless, it is a good-looking pendant.

Jamey

Thanks so much, Jamey & Joyce!

I really appreciate the help!

Susan

The currrent Rio Grande Gems & Findings catalog has what looks to be this exact jaguar face pendant (and several others) on page 531. Plus more reverse-carved amber cabs on page 263. And earrings on page 788.

33x20mm rectangle with jaguar, $48 (jump ring and cord available separately)

Matching jaguar face earrings with sterling wires, $62.20 per pair.

They do call it "cherry" amber, perhaps because of the overall rusty red color of these pieces? And oddly enough they show it as having no enhancement treatment, although I can clearly see "sun spangle" fractures in some of the cabs, which are a typical result of heat treatment.

Hm.
Chris

Hmmmmmm, I bought a couple of those.

I really like them, however, they were small & thinner than I expected.

Do you think it's really amber?

I hope so.......

Susan

Well, ordinarily, Rio is pretty careful to accurately describe their gem materials. So if probably is indeed amber.

But describing something as "untreated" when the uncarved cabochons pictured seem to be at least have been heated, whether or not the amber went through an autoclave as well, is not correct. And the "cherry" [rusty red] color looks suspiciously uniform to me - toasted to that color? Dyed? Pressed amber? I guess I could email Rio with these questions...

Best regards,
Chris