Episode 36: The Amber Room

Listen to the episode HERE on Soundcloud or visit the podcast on iTunes, either through the Podcasts App (just search for “Stuff about Things Art History”) or by clicking HERE.  Happy listening!

Sources:

Other:

Images:

Hand-colored photograph of the Amber Room, 1931 [image source: Special Collections, UC Santa Cruz]
1917 photograph of the Amber Room [image source: CTPost]
Original design of the Amber Room by Andreas Schluter [image source: Scott-Clark and Levy, pg. 10]
Giuseppe Zocchi, Feel & Touch, c. 1751, mosaic, in the collection of the Hermitage, St. Petersburg [image source: Wikipedia]
2003 Reconstruction of the Amber Room, the Catherine Palace, Tsarskoye Selo [image source: Tsarskoe Selo State Museum]
Eagle inlay in 2003 reconstruction of the Amber Room [image source: Tsarskoe Selo State Museum]
Engraved amber piece from 2003 reconstruction of the Amber Room [image source: Tsarskoe Selo State Museum]
Details from 2003 reconstruction of the Amber Room [image source: Tsarskoe Selo State Museum]
Amber workshop at Tsarskoye Selo [image source: Tsarskoye Selo Amber Workshop]
An amber panel from the 2003 reconstruction efforts [image source: Shuttershock]
A restorer works on one of the reconstructed panels [image source: Sputnik]
Detail from a reconstructed mirror [image source: Shakko]
Remaining fragments of the original Amber Room [image source: Scott-Clark and Levy, pg. 357]
Unveiling of the 2003 reconstruction of the Amber Room in May 2003 [image source: CTPost]

Happy listening,

Lindsay

6 thoughts on “Episode 36: The Amber Room

  1. Elizabeth (Lisa) Gassin's avatar
    Elizabeth (Lisa) Gassin July 12, 2023 — 12:28 am

    Super interesting episode! I almost LOL’d when you confessed to wanting to eat/lick the amber. I say the same about some of Van Gogh’s later work. I’m sure it would taste like frosting.

    Like

    1. Lindsay Sheedy's avatar
      Lindsay Sheedy July 29, 2023 — 8:30 pm

      Thank you!!! Mmmmm… impasto paint.

      Like

  2. Kathleen Brunner's avatar

    Mulling over some different options for inspiration, I stumbled onto this superb episode and am now so hooked, that I will be binge-listening to all of the other episodes! I had heard of the Amber Room, but had no historical context for it, and also was unfamiliar with the Room’s specific history. Amazing podcast with plenty of detail and humor, and completely worth stopping everything to listen to this! Thank you!!

    Like

    1. Lindsay Sheedy's avatar
      Lindsay Sheedy July 29, 2023 — 8:46 pm

      Thanks so much, Kathleen! I appreciate those kind words very much. I hope you enjoy the rest. -Lindsay

      Like

  3. Kimberly Shelton's avatar

    Fascinating! Thank you. I too just came across your podcast starting with this episode and was completely engrossed. I will be going back to listen to other episodes. I appreciate your careful research and your relating of the histories of places, persons and objects at an engaging pace and tone with a bit of humor to keep it lively. Keep up the great work!

    Like

    1. Lindsay Sheedy's avatar

      Thank you so much, Kimberly! I really appreciate those kind words. -Lindsay

      Like

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