Baltic Amber - The Gold Of the North
If you spot someone wearing an amber necklace or bracelet, you can bet they’ve got a Baltic soul—or at least a strong appreciation for this golden gem.
What is it about amber that makes it so special…? Amber isn’t just a stone; it’s a time capsule, a cultural icon.
Scholars love to dive into it, dissecting its history, geography, colors, and even the bugs caught mid-flight inside. But for me? Amber is pure nostalgia—a shiny symbol that screams home and carries a world within it, millions of years in the making.
Amber on display at Gintaro Galerija
Heres a little bit about the Baltic Treasure Chest:
In Lithuania amber is the thing. It has many museums in different cities, but amber itself is everywhere. Amber stars in art, folklore, and markets, fills boutiques and museums, and even glimmers in church decor. Amber is what they call the "Gold of Lithuania," a national pride—and my personal favorite.
You may ask, "What exactly is amber?"
To put it in simple terms….. (though this is a summarized version from a galery on Pilies Street in Vilnius’s Old Town):
Baltic Amber is fossilized tree resin from around 45–59 million years ago. An ancient coniferous trees in southern Scandinavia oozing resin… which then got transformed through a cocktail of microorganisms, oxidation, and geological magic…
After the amber trees became extinct, the resin fell to the ground and rivers carried this perfect golden goo southward, depositing about 90% of it on the Sambia Peninsula, which is Lithuania’s amber jackpot.
Amber on display at Gintaro Galerija
And, of course, as you can imagine, amber has the greatest folktales and legends passed down through generations, reflecting its deep cultural and mystical significance. Folktales are my personal favorite…one tale summarizes it as amber is believed to be the tears of the Sun Goddess, Saulė… She cried her eyes out after her true love drowned in a sea storm... Romance. Who knew amber was basically a love letter from the gods?
Amber as a Protective Charm: You might also know amber from its use in necklaces worn by babies and children, said to protect the growth of their teeth. However, amber is seen as a protective substance that is much more than just that. It was believed to have the power to ward off evil spirits, illness, and misfortune. It was commonly used in charms and amulets, especially for children, to protect them from harm. One folktale tells of a young child who fell ill with a fever that no medicine could cure—except for amber. The mother vowed to always keep amber in the home to protect her family from sickness and bad luck.
Science? Maybe not. Heartwarming & hopeful? Definitely.
Gintaro Galerija
Amber Jewels on display at Gintaro Galerija
Gintaro Galerija:
If you find yourself wandering the streets of Vilnius’s Old Town and want a quick museum visit to catch a glimpse of amber’s history, Gintaro Galerija is the place to visit. The museum is small, intimate, and beautifully inviting, with a lovely gallery on the ground floor that features modern artists who incorporate amber into their craft. When I visited, the gallery featured a local artist named Aurelija Šimkutė. Her work was beautiful and a bit haunting, and the title of the show was my favorite part: "Ieškom Šviesos", which translates to something like "Looking for Light."
Ieškom Šviesos Work by: Aurelija Šimkutė at Gintaro Galerija
“Amber is what they call the “Gold of Lithuania,” a national pride—and my personal favorite.”
Pilies Gatvė, Vilnius Lithuania