Tears of Time highly recommends “Amber Context” (Bursztynowe Konteksty) Exhibition in Malbork Castle (Poland).

Baltic amber is tree resin fossilised millions of years ago, which has been fascinating people for centuries. The “Amber Context” exhibition presents both the natural richness of the forms of the “living stone” as well as everyday use and jewellery items made of this material.

The exhibition aims to present the amber collection put together by the Castle Museum since its inception in 1961. The famous Malbork amber collection which has been exhibited all over the world is now presented in a modern arrangement supplemented by multimedia. An animation depicting an amber forest of around 40 million years ago shall set the atmosphere of the exhibition. Next the visitors, guided by laser light will travel along a time line, where geological changes will be shown, leading to the creation of amber and its movements. In this part of the exhibition, the visitors see natural amber pieces and inclusions – plant and animal trapped inside the tree resin. The next rooms will contain graphical explanations, comments as well as information booths which will allow visitors to broaden their knowledge about Baltic amber.

The history of Baltic amber is inseparably linked with the area around the Gdańsk Bay. It was here that it was created during the ancient Eocene Epoch and remained underground to be processed and used to make everyday use items, mainly decorative since the Neolithic times.

Malbork Castle history – the seat of Polish kings is closely linked with amber. During the Middle Ages, amber became the source of wealth. Mainly rosaries but also reliefs and sculptures were made from amber.

In modern times, amber became one of the favourite materials of artisans making luxury goods such as small sculptures, goblets, caskets as well as small altars. The Malbork collection is famous for unique amber masterpieces which belonged to Polish Kings.

The presentation of modern amber items is equally important. The amber industry promotes the Polish economy around the world. The artists working with amber create varied pieces many of which astonish with the perfection of the finish and contemporary form. They are works of art. Amber objects, previously associated with mass production, now due to talented designers and the high quality of workmanship are becoming synonymous with good design.

The curator of “Amber Context” exhibition, Ph.D. Anna Sobecka, is a lecturer at the Institute of Art History of Gdansk Univesity and a President of Board of the International Amber Association. Tears of Time is an active member of IAA since 2013.

Source: http://www.zamek.malbork.pl/index.php?p=wydarzenia&aid=70&lang=en

Photos: www.zamek.malbork.pl