History of Jewellery Making in Poland

Poland is a country in eastern Europe with a rich history in jewellery making, specifically Baltic amber. The Poles have been crafting objects out of amber as early as the Neolithic era.

The fossilised tree resin, or amber, is often called the Gem of the Baltic or The Gold of the North due to its stunning colour and composition. Based on the first Polish monograph, O Bursztynie (On Amber) written by physician Jan Freyer’s in 1833, amber is a resinous fossil matter that releases an aromatic and distinct smell when burning.

If you browse different publications on amber, you will discover that the amber renaissance on the Polish soil only happened after the Second World War when most parts of the Baltic coastline, such as Gdansk, was given back to Poland. New workshops started opening but it was only in the late 60s when artists started collaborating with craftsmen, which then revitalised interest in crafting quality amber pieces.

These days, the tradition of amber handicraft in Gdansk is reflected mainly by monumental sculptures and decorative objects such as candleholders, lamps, platters, cups, vases, tableware, chess sets, tankards, and caskets.

The couple Pawel and Maria Fietkiewicz, graduates of Gdansk Academy of Fine Arts, are among those who started the jewellery trend. The highly valued works of the couple included amber jewellery pieces that elegantly focused on the origin of the fossil. In commemoration of the pair’s significant contribution, the Amber Museum in Gdansk dedicated a special exhibition to the couple in 2009.

Further, renowned art theorist and amber artisan Giedymin Jabłoński crafted a circular solar amulet in 2002 that was inspired by the earliest amber handicraft findings of Neolithic Polish archaeology. Now, amber continues to enjoy the spotlight of being the not so hidden gem of Poland.

Needless to say, the history of the Polish jewellery industry cannot be discussed without mentioning Baltic amber. Most of the jewellers didn’t undergo any formal education but there were lots of artists that created jewellery, and this, along with experience, is how they honed their craft.

One of the main selling points of the Polish amber jewellery, besides the design, craftsmanship, and originality, is its value. Although Poland is a member of the EU, it still uses its own currency The Zloty, which is worth around 25% of the value of the Euro. The nation will switch to this currency in the future but until then, the value of commodity including amber is relatively affordable in Poland.

The former Soviet nation’s largest jewellery markets include the United States, Italy, China, and Germany. The truth is that the method of most Polish jewellers is driven by artistic creativity rather than driven by the market which makes Polish-made jewellery even more desirable. At Amber Lynx, rest assured that what you buy from us is authentic Baltic Amber.