Amber and Gold
When you search for amber and gold, you are looking at pieces that pair warm resin with precious metal.
Amber and Gold
Amber and gold items span several periods, with pieces appearing from the Victorian era, the Edwardian period, and the 1920s. You will frequently find personal accessories such as drop earrings, rings, and cheroot holders combining these materials.
The selection also incorporates decorative objects and lighting, including chandeliers hung with amber crystal teardrops alongside glass and gilt metal. Jewellery forms dominate the listings, particularly mounted amber set in 9ct gold or silver.
Makers and origins vary from Bohemian glassworks to French ateliers and English workshops. The pieces reflect design movements from Art Nouveau and Art Deco to the Victorian period.
Materials and Technique
Gold and silver provide the mountings, settings, and cases for amber components, utilised in rings, brooches, and cheroot holders. Goldsmiths shaped 9ct gold into clasps, chains, and engraved cases to house organic resins and gemstones.
Glass production runs alongside these metal techniques, seen in iridescent glass, Moser glass, and moulded crystal teardrops used in chandeliers. Artisans combined heat-treated glass with metal overlays and gilt metal frames to achieve decorative effects.
Amber and Gold Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for amber and gold among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
Someone once preserved their smoking habit inside a pocket-sized silver case that smells faintly of history.
Evaluating the Pieces
Quality rests on the precision of the metalwork and the clarity of the amber or glass components. Hand-engraved silver cases and finely cast gold settings distinguish superior examples from simpler production.
The integration of materials determines the success of a piece, whether it is an Art Nouveau glass vase with silver overlay or a gold-mounted cheroot holder. Well-preserved original mounts and intact crystal drops elevate the standing of an item.
R Lalique·Loetz·Kralik Glass·LC Tiffany·Ferdinand von Poschinger
The Amber and Gold Glossary
- Amber
- Fossilised tree resin valued for its warm colour and light weight. It is frequently polished for use in jewellery and smoking accessories.
- 9ct Gold
- An alloy of gold containing 37.5 percent pure gold, commonly utilised in antique rings, earrings, and brooch mounts.
- Cheroot Holder
- A small tube designed to hold a cheroot while smoking. They often feature amber mouthpieces mounted in gold or silver cases.
- Iridescent Glass
- Glass treated with metallic salts to produce a rainbow sheen on the surface. It is characteristic of Art Nouveau vessels.
- Gilt Metal
- Base metal coated with a thin layer of gold. It appears frequently in antique chandeliers and decorative hardware.
Amber and Gold: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I care for amber jewellery?
Amber is a soft organic resin that scratches easily and reacts poorly to harsh chemicals or extreme heat. Clean pieces gently with a soft cloth and store them away from other hard items.
Keep amber away from perfumes, hairsprays, and alcohol-based cleaners to preserve its surface polish over time.
How can I date gold and amber items?
Dating relies on stylistic clues such as the sweeping organic lines of Art Nouveau mounts or the geometric symmetry typical of Art Deco design. Hallmarks stamped on gold or silver components provide specific assay office and year markers where present.
Construction methods, such as the bezel settings used in Victorian jewellery, also help narrow down the period of manufacture.
Were cheroot holders used daily?
Cheroot holders were common personal accessories for smokers in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. They kept tobacco away from the mouth and filtered smoke through the amber mouthpiece.
Wealthy owners often stored them in custom leather or engraved silver cases carried in pockets or chatelaines.