Amber
 Amber
is a natural, organic material that was especially popular during
the Victorian era. Amber is resinous tree sap and is primarily used
for making beads and bracelets. Most of the world's amber is in
the range of 30–90 million years old. Semi-fossilized resin
or sub-fossil amber is called copal. Genuine amber will accrue enough
static electricity to lift a piece of paper if rubbed on wool.
Often
amber (paticularly with insect inclusions) is counterfeited using
a plastic resin similar in appearance. A simple test (perfomed on
the back of the object) consists of touching the object with a heated
pin and determining if the resultant odor is of wood resin. If not,
the object is counterfeit, although a positive test may not be conclusive
owing to a thin coat of real resin. Often counterfits will have
a too perfect pose and position of the trapped insect.
Amber
is found along the shores of the Baltic and North Seas, but the
greatest producer of amber is the promontory of Sambia, which is
now a part of  Russia.
Pieces of amber are torn up from the sea floor and collected at
low tide. Sometimes it is collected when the searchers wade into
the water using nets at the end of long poles or by dredging from
boats in shallow water.
Extensively
used to make beads, and other ornaments as well as cugar-holders
and the mouth pieces of pipes, amber is considered valuable by Turks
who believe that it is impossible to transmit infection as the pipe
passes from mouth to mouth. Some of the best quality of amber- pale
straw-coloured and slightly cloudy- is sent to Vienna for use in
the manufacture of smoking appliances. Amber is turned on a lathe
and polished with whiteneing and water. Its final sheen is achieved
by rubbing it with flannel.
If
amber is heated gradually in an oil bath, it becomes soft and flexible.
It is possible to marry two pieces of amber together by smearing
the surfaces with linseed oil, heating the pieces up and then pressing
them together while hot. Small pieces of amber, at one time thrown
away, are now used to make pressed amber which is in turn used to
make cheap jewellery and articles for smoking. Amber is often imitated
with resins like copal and kauri or celluloid and glass.
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