Amber in the fine arts and crafts of Sicily

Since immemorial, rare, precious, and unusual materials have inspired the interest of patrons and artists seeking to produce sculpture (e.g. ivory, amber, coral), painted works (using semiprecious stones like alabaster or agate as the substrate) and applied arts (amber, coral, seashells, nut shells) of astounding artistic expression. Italy, and Sicily specifically was one of the centres of small scale sculptural production in southern Europe. Local specialist craftspeople produced artworks of coral, but also of ivory, tortoiseshell, mother of pearl, and other kinds of rare ornamental stones, e.g. alabaster and its varieties. They are particularly known for their works in amber.  In addition to the dimensions of the available raw material and its visual qualities (structure, colour, transparency, and translucency), amber’s ease of working qualifies its use. Sicilian amber has a characteristic deep red colour. Carved amber medallions were set in rich silver frames or altars. One such medallion, with a representation of the Adoration of the Shepherds, is in the collection of the Amber Museum in Gdańsk. In Trapani, frames and reliquaries, mirrors, and altars were also crafted from silver filigree mounted with amber beads. Amber beads were also used to create the baluster of silver vases and set with silver bouquets set with beads. These vases were placed on altars in chapels or at home altars. The collection of the Gdańsk City Museum also includes a small figurine, now recognized as an image of St. Agatha, placed on an alabaster pedestal characteristic of Trapani. Studies of the amber itself have identified this material as Bal‑ tic rather than Sicilian, suggesting this artefact may be an antiquarian marriage.