Semi-weekly south Kentuckian., 1886-04-23
ABOUT AMBER.
Curious and Expensive Lumps Of tAs
Transparent Substance.


Amber is used considerably in minor
decorative work, as in jcwelry and
knick-knacks. Its expense, of course,
preclud,s its employment on an ex-
tended scale, though one can easily i'm
agine that heading of it around room
decorated in yellow would add dainty
charm to 1t, and that small fragments
of it might be combined in mosaic orna-
mont on surface of stippling or of lin
crusta. Our decorators, if they care to
take the hint, might save up amber
beads and fragments of the mouth.
pieces Of cigar-holdcrs that fall in their
way, to sec what they can accomplish in
this direction. A beautiful design exc.
cuted in bits of amber, and sunk into a
wall something after the fashion of the
pieces of glass that form the leading
notes of color in q jcweled window,
would be a novelty at all events, and
that it would be an artistic one there is
little doubt. In small pieces this SUBJ
stance is not expensive, but tho price,
rs in the case of diamonds,
augmcnts in geometrical rather than
arithmctical ratio, as the size increases.
Thus piece as big rs ones little finger
Joint would be worth about quarter of
r dollar, but piece twice that size
would be worth several hundred per
cent. more, and if the size were again
doubled the increase in value would bo
in still higher proportion. Tho larg.
est piece in the world that is without
blcmish is in the Mark Museum in Dant-
zic, and Weighs eight pounds. The own
er refused seven thousand five hundred
dollars for it. ... ..t. .
Frederick the Great bonght thirteen
pound lump, as curiosity, for about
that sum, but though heavier, it is inn
pure and is cracked and porous. 1t is
kept in meteorological museum in Ber-
lin. The Empress OF Russia has price,
less tea set made of amber, but it is
presumed that she does not drink tea
from 1t very often. A complete
pipe, carved from the samu material,
was smoked by Frederick William III,
of Prussia, father of the reigning Kai-
ser, and the bowl of it is decorated with
an excellent relief portrait of its owner.
Frederick the Great owned beautiful
flute of ambcr-thc flute was his pet in
strument-a this, together with a
pipe, is preserved in n Berlin collection.
Amber with insects in it is quite COM
mon, the unfortunate bugs and flies
| having alightod on the gum as it was
flowing down tho haok OF the trees, and
sticking fast as it slowly enveloped
them, while fragments Of bark and
leaves further attest its vegetable origin.
but 1t remained for A. I. Stewart to
discover piece that inclosed a perfect
fish, or rather to discover a man who
owned that unique specimen. Mr..
Stewart bought it for four thousand
five hundred dollars. Somcvery pretty
jewelry is made of amber, lis rich,
sherry-likc color and high polish en-.
thlng it to be more used in personal
adornment than it ever has been. If il
were more scarce such jewclry would be
eagerly sought for. There are ear-drops
like transparent gold; necklaces of am
ber buttercups and daisies; pins in the
form of wild roses, and backs for combs
studded with little globes of amber. II
has been combined with frosted silver
flligree work, gold and pearls with good
effect Clouded amber, showing streaks
Of white and gray that marked the slow
convolutions of the gum as 1t trickled
down, is much esteemed by some and
costs more than transparent amber, but
the clear article is most pleasing as dec
orative material, as it has the most brill
liancy, softncss and color. There arc
some possibilities in amber worth test.
ng.-Dccorator and FarniSher.