Baltic Amber, from the Eocene to Paper Doll Vintage Boutique!

Some of Paper Doll Vintage Boutique's Amber for sale

Hello Paper Dolls!

We just got some new amber in from Poland and thought it would be fun to do a little research. Turns out, we've got some prehistoric pieces in the shop!

The Baltic region is home to the largest known deposit of amber, called Baltic amber orsuccinite. It dates from 44 million years ago.

The climate became warmer and trees started to exude big amounts of resin. Scientists say that amber is a fossil pine resin from this region that has achieved a stable state through oxidation.

It ranges from bright yellow to dark yellow or brownish-orange, depending on its age and where it is found, in seldom cases it is either red or blue. Only a small quantity of amber is clear, because of the effects of the sun, most of it is opaque. Enclosures, such as water bubbles, gas bubbles, pieces of bark, twigs, plant seeds and even insects and small animals unmistakably show its origin and give it its characteristic appearance.

There are also a number of other fascinating facts about natural Baltic Amber – it floats in salt water but sinks in fresh water; When amber is touched with fire, it produces an aroma of burning pine, amber electrifies negatively and it is still alive because its internal metamorphosis is still incomplete.

A Baltic Amber fairy tale: There was also a fisherman named Kastytis who chose to cast his nets within Jurate’s underwater kingdom. The goddess sent her handmaids to alert Kastytis that fishing in her kingdom was forbidden. However, Kastytis enjoyed the number of fish he was successful in catching in these waters and so he continued. When Jurate realized he was impervious to her wishes, she chose to go in person to deliver the message to cease immediately.

And as with all great love stories, this was the major turning point for both of them. Once Jurate laid eyes on Kastytis, she fell completely in love with him and brought him back to live with her in her amber palace.

But this was to be a very short and tragic love affair because her father, Perkunas, knew that Jurate was betrothed to Patrimpas, God of Water, and was incensed that Jurate would commit to a relationship with a mere mortal. In his anger, Perkunas destroyed the beautiful amber palace by sending a bolt of lightening that would also kill Jurate’s mortal lover. So the palace was destroyed and Jurate was chained within its ruins for all eternity.

So the story goes that when storms occur in the area of the Baltic Sea, the delicate fragments of the underwater palace are washed up on shore. Many of the amber pieces resemble the shape of tears thought to be from the grieving goddess who still cries for her lost love. These are the most precious pieces of all.