Old Polish Amber strand, 1960s/1970s, much worn, much appreciated, knocked around and still beautiful. Totally natural and still on the original stranding. Baltic Amber has been appreciated and traded for thousands and thousands of years, back to Neolithic times at least, and historically provided a living for a good many people over the centuries, through its gathering and cutting to its trade.
One of Baltic Amber’s more interesting tales involves how in the early medieval period, the area’s dominant religious order would insist that the peasants it controlled enter the shallows of the Baltic Sea shores during winter storms to gather Amber, for these winter storms roiled the sea into throwing up its treasures.
The above old Polish Amber strand, though it has had considerable wear over the decades, has been well cared for, the Amber retaining its lovely warm glow, its polish and gleam. No doubt its previous owners always gave it a wipe with a damp cloth after use.
Note: every one of the forty-four old Amber beads in the above strand has been cut by hand, every one of them, though all ovoid, different.