Amber Twist

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Amber turning is a profession that is rarely practiced today. The amber twisters deal with the production of beads, chains, bracelets, amulets, reliefs, figures and mouthpieces for tobacco pipes, in the past even with magnifying glasses, glasses and prisms made of amber (agtstein, amber). They also worked as a paternoster maker .

Machining

To prepare the raw pieces, they are first placed in water so that they do not heat up during the subsequent treatment and do not crack. Then the outer brown bark is sanded off, then the pieces are turned or carved. Turning takes place either on an ordinary lathe or on a type of dock swivel chair, the spindle of which is set in motion with the hand turning arc. The completion of the work is added by grinding with pumice stone , abrasion with the chips, and by polishing with quicklime , with whiting or "with triples , with the, alcohol moistened, gives the finest and lightest luster."

swell

  • Rudi Palla : The lexicon of the lost professions. From skinner to zokelmacher. Eichborn, Frankfurt am Main 1994.