Shaving brush made from real amber

Here is something very unique.  After a bit of research I couldn't find anyone who has turned Amber.  I decided to take up the challenge anyway. With the cost of a chunk of amber big enough to make a brush it was stressful,  but taking it very slow and with the right technique it was possible to turn and even polish.   I love that you can see all the natural flaws in the material.


It is very labor intensive to carve.  I found that the hardness was inconsistent and that presented several problems.  It was very slow going and in that regard is simular to turning soft stone.   While surprisingly hard, it is soft and warm to the touch and not cold like other hard materials. The best part is the fantastic aroma.  There was a very interesting safety concern. Because of the fantastic smell I saved the shavings. However the shavings where warm but as they where clustered together they built up heat to the point that they spontaneously combust.



Here are the results, I hope you enjoy the natural beauty of this material as much as I do.

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WOW! I know amber comes from the Baltic and a Latin America source. I believe it was Pliny the Elder who held it to a flame and solved the riddle of it's origin by the resulting scent.
It's an ancient source of jewelry and of course specimens with plant, insect and even small animal inclusions are very valuable.

What an amazing looking brush!

Thanks for sharing..

That's awesome! Great work.

Wow.

Where is the amber from? What part of the world?

Stunning brush, Nathan!

Just beautiful, Nathan!

Wow.

Where is the amber from? What part of the world?

This amber came from Mexico

Wow! I would love to see that brush photographed outdoors in natural sunlight.

Daaaaaaanng, that's pretty!