New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-08-31
epRiorS flefS lRort lvafM

! WnfHt ~ rs fotSn=fHH AMERICAN PRODUCT
| fHianNFAH 90 toNt Adn,
| IN ono at tha windows OF store IN fultnn-s It, Ia
suspended row of bits ct amhe containing insuota
with notification that piece, desired lor collections
are to loo obtained within, A lRBUNE reporter
noticing this entered tho storo and there found u
Thorough amber enthusiast, A" Yes" no said, |
have a special liking for amber, and have Just re-
turned from trip which made to the amber dis
trlct ON the Baltic. i.Al the amber OF commerce
comes from there now, although amber is found in
many parts OF the wOrld--n China in japan, since
recently in Patagonia and from time to time in tho
United States. 1t is peculiar fact that the amber
found here and in Patagonia is particularly fine.
1t Is of the transparent kind or, rs say in com
mcrce clear amber, but is much darker than the
Baltic clear quality, of a reddish yellow approach
ing the color of fine Oriental topaz. Pieces Of this
fine quality have been found in AmbOy, ~ J. l was
very much struck with one fact i'll East Prussia ::
All the amber that Is found IS in vein of blush
green sand | picked out a piece myself, and
mineraogy. and he pointed ont to me line particles
of mica glItermg III the sand which adhered to the
piece, for kept II unwashcd on purpose. lie said
TO lie that he Thought this sand was IN reality de-
composed alnminouS clay Now az Amb0y there 49,
understand, a large deposit of tins clay which is
used extensively i'll the potterIes Of Trenton Ii
may be that the pieces OF amber found at AmbOy
were i'll bed of tins clay decOmposed By the action
of the sen in past ages However that may be. II IS
certain that on the southern shores Of the Baltic the
men who worked for this amber by raklng the sea-
weed after storms long ago came % the conclusion
that the precious article was rolled out by the tide
from this peculiar blush green sand. So they fol-
low the VEINS of tho sand and mino them regularity
The Government assumes to own all the amber and
farms the work ont to one contractor who pays 300
thaers each working day for the privilege of work
ing IT..
about three hours ride by rail from kongSbcrg.
There were about 800 inhabitants who were sup
ported entirely by amber mining. There was one
central SHAFT which went down abDut 100 feet, and
there different galleries. and cross-cuts Just
like streets and eros, streets | think there must
have been forty miles OF thon. The wOrkmru dig
into this sand, and ill small tram ears that hold
about 900 pounds. These are run to the elevator
aud noistcd mp by steam The sand IS then washed
in sluce Just as IN gold mining the pieces of am
Der beng stopped by nets OF various mcShes at
different intervals. Then skilled wOTkmen take the
pieces and assert them according 10 size shape and
quality. Piece, containing foreign substances so
dear TO the collector, ale put on one SIDE. At the
hrs handling they are considered inferior until
turthcr examination shows the exact nature OF the
ncloscd substance. Pieces that are cracked are of
LITTLE value and generally go To the Varuish maker.
They could be utilized in much mole rcuuuerattve
way, for Il delicate perfume Is made IN SPAN and
Italy from this substance. But this l. done no.
where else. | got Colgate to experiment with
scraps from our workshop, but he did not succeed.
Large pieces are much more valuable than small
pieces. lump of amber weighing pound would
bring $50 while one weighing thirteen pounds
would be- worth $1,000 There is IN the National
nearly fourteen pounds The shape also Is con
sldcratou. An oblong piece IA worth more than a
round piece. ana well shaped round piece Is worth
more than an ul-ioined round piece
The cutting ~ chirdy done m lantlic. Here
this same man that contracts with the Government
has an army OF work p,Upl" l. e. has 900 men em-
ployed I'M one branch alone, making mouth pieces.
aud 900 mora cmploved ON beads and lew,lly TOR
Russia alone lie takes then work Tor the whole
year aud dispnses of the whole m a week I'm tho
great fair AT MINI Noysorod. Then he has n any
moro WorlJmen who manufacture beads for Chlna,
l,.lt. tttt lftIts ttt.l Attlt
"lou must know that the two great divisions of
amber are INTO clear aud cloudy Now II isHptou-
liar tact that tho Americans agree with the IWks
ana Arabs and PotsRns IN pretcrlns the oloudod,
Whctcns Europeans esteem particularly the clear,
aud AZ dn tho thuogo aud Japanese aud the non.
Mohlmmrlau Inhabitants ot ludm \ MoHul 81
nrM will have hN prayer hctd' cloHd,d, nud a.
,rd ns he can ppt thom. Bat the wives aud ,lauHh
tcteioi llWhWua, i'anWne AMI hupnn'' WI t'M !
nothing hut the clear lhoN o7pvoHlN d.uEht ln |
cylinder earrings an uoh Ions aud a. tht i a. inc |
mtddp finger. and have Noo auc i 't"U' 'I'' mat
mcnts are light ia spito of hrir s" ana dn not pll
tho lobe of the ear down The demand ia tho Last
i4 ~ grout that II never has been NuppNcd Ia |
America tho amber mouih-pieee Is the one "tll'lo
Tor which thcro IL much inquiry We are eudcaV1r-
ing to combine tho two qualities ln otlnro-HAr or
namruts, with background OF the clear, ana a |
decoration in the cloudy ia high relief We cut
medallion portraits, fruit, flowers, etc, ana uhltc
the two with mastio. And We have many sets Of |
amber ewelry chat are really fascinating But |
there is on the part of the pubic liking loF Euld
jcwelry and amber for personal DECORATION Is the
"a
in New-JcrScy Mrs. f.. A.. smith, who is most |
passionate lover of amber. She has set OF Iead> !
which she wears over black velvet IN peculiar |
way. The beads are arranged III concentrlc curves !
so as 10 form curious covering for the entire cors-
age and the effect said 10 I've splendid. Her beads
are all cloudcd. Mrs. 4 T. Stewart has complete |
set in tortoise she'll and amber. She has $50 col
lection of odd pieces ono of which. about the SIZE 81
the palm of the hand, contains small hSh IL cost
Mr. Stewart - 200. Tho Empress OF KuSSlh mas a
tea service of amber twelve cups ana saucer !
mi k-iug and sugar bowl There aIe some ladies'
who buv amber articles of mo who an hardly con-
tain themselves when they hear OF IT, They would |
like To drink tea ont of amber amazingly. don't
know whether it would communicate IA dellcatcly
delicious flavor TO the tea. IL might bat then the
Clarina has the finest tea in the world sent spcc
ally az present by the Imperial family oi Emma
A German professor told me that there were Roman
enperOrs who drank their. wine out of amber cups,
and that ii was customary in Rome To fedute alll,
Der to n powder and NIX II with beverages.
should think II would taste pretty much the same
as cOpQl gu IN. ,
Now let me show you some of our odd pieceS
The young man produced cabinet ana puNed out
n number of drawers 4" / told you that the as
soTerS put on one side Inferior pieces containing
foreign substances When these have been washed
and cleaned aud cut IL is often found that the OBJ
ject IL of such "A nature rs to make piece very
valuable indeed. For instance. here Is piece with
"A small lizard: here is another with scorpion. And
n merchant in Hamburg has piece containing
leaf that looks like olive leaf IL ~ not curled
mp but is nattened out rs perfectly rs 1t would be
in a herbarium. lie asks for 1t thirty thousand
marks. or $500