Amber the Golden Gem of the Ages (Hardcover)

by Patty C. Rice (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Amber: Golden Gem of the Ages, Fourth Edition is unique --· because it describes the Baltic amber industry which has utilized amber as a gem stone throughout the ages. It also describes a variety of fossil resins, their characteristic and locations. It includes the most recent research and directs other researchers to sources such the internet and publications. · The mining of amber in Kaliningrad and Gdansk hydraulic extraction are featured in a photo-documentation format. This feature is very unique. The book also includes photos of mines dug in Bayaguana and Santiago, Dominican Republic. · It includes illustration and descriptions of outstanding amber artists as well as the leading scientists studying amber as a fossil resin. The description of the Amber Room and its restoration that opened to the public in May 2003 is current and unique.The original version of this book was considered a definitive work-- a reference for other amber researchers and scientists. In the late 1980's modern scientific equipment revolutionized the thinking about amber. The fossil insects were studied to reveal information about evolution of the fauna and flora of prehistoric times. TheFourth Edition includes descriptions of work of David Grimaldi, Rob DeSalle, George Poinar, and Raul Cano, pioneers in DNA research from amber fossils. George Poinar donated photographs of many of his discoveries of "first" published representatives of various classes of insects and parasites. This book includes something for everyone studying amber from a variety of points of view. Even archaeological finds and mythological information gives amber a humanistic side since amber was used by primitive people in many cultures. & --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author
Dr. Rice received her Ph.D. from Michigan State University. Her extensive amber collection has received numerous trophies and first-place awards in mineral shows through out the U.S. ands Canada. She has travelled extensively to observe first-hand the amber industry and mining techniques, is a popular amber lecturer, has authored many articles in professional gem and mineral journals, and is an expert appraiser of amber holdings.Her work as a jewelry designer has received wide recognition.. She has lectured at Gem and Mineral Shows throughout U.S.A., Canada, and Poland.Dr. Rice has presented for Burgess-Jastak Arts Foundation andUniversity of Delaware Gallery, Wilmington, DE.; Loyal College Gallery, Philadelphia, Penn.; Kansas City Mineralogical Society, MO.; Toronto Gem and Mineral Society, Canada; American Polish Engineering Association, Detroit, MI.; Friends of Polish Arts, Detroit; Midwest Mineralogical Society, Detroit; Mt. Clemens Gem and Mineral Society,Ann Arbor Mineralogical Society, and Flint Mineral Society, MI. She was invited to present her "Artistry in Amber Exhibition" materials at the World Conference on Amber at the Museum Zeimi, Warsaw, Poland, in 1988, and to consult on amber in Bresia, Italy in 1996. She attended the International Symposium on Amber at the Gdansk Archaeology Museum in 1998 and visited the restored amber room in 2003 in Russia. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: Geoscience Press; 3 edition (March 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0945005296
• ISBN-13: 978-0945005292
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #6,120,691 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A treasure-trove of a book about amber!, September 11, 1998

By	strega2 "strega2" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Amber: The Golden Gem of the Ages (Paperback)

Patty C. Rice brings a passionate love for her subject to this wonderful book. She offers a very comprehensive study of this beloved gemstone, from a detailed account of its long history, to the folklore surrounding it, to a thorough study of its scientific properties.She explores the many sources of amber worldwide, and gives an exhaustive study of the amazing variety of amber. Most helpful to a collector, she explains in detail how genuine amber differs from its imitations, and how you can perform simple tests to determine if yours is authentic.The mechanics of working with amber as a lapidary or jewelry- maker are also discussed. I loved the wealth of gorgeous photos, many of them from Dr. Rice's own impressive personal collection from all over the world. Her book does full justice to the beauty and enduring fascination of amber, and if you love it as much as I do, her book is a must-have.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book on the subject, June 12, 2006

By	Sandra W. Jaqua - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Amber: the Golden GEM of the Ages (Paperback)

If you have any book on amber in your possession, this is the one to have. Amongst amber aficionados, this is considered to be the "Bible". The chapter on differentiating between real amber and the vast number of fakes is vital for those that collect this wonderful gem. If you have the opportunity to get a copy of this book, don't hesitate!