About amber
About amber
The name Amber derives from the Arabic word anbar that refers to ambergris, a sperm whales’ secretion which in past times, was mistakenly confused with the fossilized golden-hued vegetal resins. In ancient Greek people it was well known as “electron”. Thales of Miletus made experiments on it, recorded phenomena which today are classified in electricity and are the field where electron (amber) owes its properties.
The Turkish word for amber is kehribar, which in turn derives from the Arabic word kahruba, which means “that which attracts haystack”, presumably due to its known properties of attracting light material, after rubbing amber on a wool garment. Amber is the fossilized resin of coniferous trees, which exceeds the age of 30 million years, it contains succinic acid and it is a source of electricity.
Amber comes from molecular polymers that result the impact of very high pressures and temperatures which are produced by the overlying sediments and convert the resin to a copal first (plain fossil). After passing of millions of years, the effects of pressures and temperatures lead to the formation of amber.
But there are other requirements for the creation of amber, as the...
Amber's properties
Due to the color, the warmth and electrical properties of amber the reputation of its protective and magical nature is widely known since antiquity. So it is not surprising that thousands of years now it was burned as incense during religious and spiritual ceremonies. While burned, amber releases a pleasant pine scent.
Due to its organic nature, the color of amber often varies and depends on
a) the type of the coniferous tree,
b) the ground's components and
c) the high pressures and temperatures it has suffered, during the millions of years, it was inside the soil.
Low temperatures and pressures give light shades of yellow or gold. While these are increased the colors darken and they range from honey amber to dark brown. Genuine amber is soft and warm to the touch, unlike the plastic which is hard and cool.
Amber, according to tradition is a powerful healer and cleanser of the body, mind and spirit as:
- Draws the disease from the body and heals and renews the nervous system.
- It absorbs pain and negative energy, helping to alleviate stress.
- Clears depression, stimulates the intellect and promotes self-confidence and creative self-expression. - Attracks happiness and...
Faturan, mastics and sudurus
Faturan, mastics and sudurus are chemical attempts to imitate real amber. They deserve a position at your collection because of their antiquity.
They also have beguiling colors and their beads produce enchanting sounds. They are aged between 60 to 120 years. The tradition says they are consisted of amber dust, of frankincense, bakelite, colophony and mastic dust. There is no certitude for their composition, unless we analyze them chemically. Their antiqueness results their value.
The company “EFHANTRO” has collected until 1976 nothing but the best, in faturan, mastics and sudurus at the Arabic world. At that time, they were very rare.
Today the market is stuffed with these so called”old”. So, if the cap fits, wear it!