The Caribbean region has a long history or amber arts and amber trade. Dominican amber, Colombian copal and other fossil resins are found there. Very recently a new Amber World Museum has been opened on the St Thomas Island, which presents an extensive amber collection with special emphasis on Baltic amber. The museum is a very popular spot among tourist from all over the world and usually attracts a few hundred visitors a day. The museum has been designed by Jacek Baron a famous Polish jewelry designer and amber artisan. Visitors of the museum can see his amazing work like the Amber Waterfall and the Amber Forest. The Forest is built of artificial shrubs and trees and shows how amber is formed , while the Waterfall is a wall, more than 6.5 feet wide and 16 feet high, lined with Colombian copal aged in an autoclave, with water flowing over it.
The museum is divided into two sections: exhibition rooms and retail store. In the exhibition rooms visitors can see beautiful collection of various kinds of amber including Baltic, Japanese and Burmese amber, as well as copal. There is also a large collection of amber nuggets, drops and inclusions. Each exhibit is carefully described and illustrated which makes a visit a great learning experience. Founders of the museum also displayed replicas of many famous amber artifacts from the Neolithic Age, through Roman times. A reference to the Caribbean region’s history comes as three enormous, beautifully crafted ships from Columbus voyage mounted on amber waves. It is said that Columbus came here during one of his voyages and received gifts of gold and amber from the natives.
The owners of the museum plan to expand it and add new sections on regular basis. Probably in a near future a Forgery Section will be opened.