Text by Agata Hryniewicz

First came the flame of passion, followed by a moment of reflection which helped Dorota Hryniewicz realize and develop the idea of creating a place so refreshingly warm and welcoming. Since launching a high-style jewellery company over a decade ago, she has expanded her reach far outside the Polish borders, garnering praise and recognition in the process.

Ambertop Gallery was created in 1996 in Braniewo, a small town positioned on the top of Poland's Warmia province. From the moment the gallery doors opened, it has been a place for one-of-a-kind pieces of jewellery lovingly crafted by Dorota Hryniewicz and a team of talented young polish designers. Amber, the leading material used in her designs, reminds her of music: full of passion, charm and grace. This jewellery makes you realise that you were wrong thinking that amber is reserved only for your grandmother – amber can be fashionable and funky – the uniqueness of amber jewellery comes from its natural origins. "Amber has been around me since I can remember. When I was little girl on holiday – that was the best time of the year, I was picking up a little pieces of amber on the coast of the Baltic Sea", she says.

 "In my opinion, amber is one of the most precious natural resources, even today," Dorota gushes. "This process started million years ago when Mother Nature created beauty, which was hidden deep on the bottom of the ocean. Not many people know that for many centuries amber was used as an alternative medicine," she explains, continuing that "we are surrounded by all sorts of electrical devices: radios, television sets, microwave ovens, hair-dryers, shavers, computers and mobile phones, which affect our organism. Modern research proves that we may protect ourselves against their negative influence by making friends with Baltic amber, and wearing amber jewellery, necklaces, bracelets, brooches, rings or pendants."
 

Warming up, amber changes ionisation, positively influencing our frame of mind and rebuilding the disturbed electrostatic field. We will be happy and full of energy once again, and we will attract luck. Amber is trying to communicate with us, but we are still unable to understand it and discover its secrets. We do not even know which tree produced this fantastic resin 50 million years ago. There is magical power in the Baltic amber (succinite). It is an exclusively good power, worth getting familiar with and it is for our protection. Current research confirms what people have felt and believed in for centuries. Ambertop’s main and the most important material is amber. Nevertheless, corals, pearls and other precious and natural minerals are present in the collections.

Inspiration for Dorota’s projects come from everyday life and travel experiences. During a business trip to France she realised how precious and significant art is to the French, people respect art far more than other European nations. When Dorota visited Bordeaux, it was like love at first sight – and it made her think more often about getting to know southwest France better. She found a place in a heart of Old Town, near the Gironne River. Beautiful old buildings with big windows and high ceilings – very characteristic of French architecture. The official opening of Amber D.H. Gallery took place in October 2007 with guests invited from both Poland and France. The objective of Amber Gallery D.H. in Bordeaux is to promote Polish art and design in France – it is a place where young and talented artists can display their work – paintings, sculptures and jewellery. After few months Dorota realised that the French were unfamiliar with amber, so she took pleasure in the fact that her gallery was the first place to teach them what amber exactly is and where it came from. “Amber is my life and my passion, and some people say that to have a passion is to have a second life” explains Dorota. Amber D.H. Gallery’s projects are all hand made with precious and natural materials, which means that no two pieces can ever be the same, making Dorota’s projects unique.

Many clients return to discover the new collections and often to visit Dorota, as she likes to develop a bond with her clients. She takes time to focus on each client, paying attention to detail and creating a unique piece of jewellery that meets the client’s specification. It would be wrong to assume that Dorota’s clients were exclusively female – Ambertop focuses on creating elegant and stylish pieces for men too. Stunning collections of cufflinks and tie pins made with amber, pearls and unique mountain crystal joined together with silver and gold plated silver. Combining beauty with functionality, the range also extends to card holders with amazing pieces of honey coloured amber combined with tropical wood, paper knives with natural corals, keychains made from mountain crystal and ruby. Thanks to Gallery Amber D.H. in Bordeaux, Dorota’s client base is expanding, and she can show her work to the wider audience. Justyna Georick, a 34-year-old businesswoman says “The necklace I bought at Ambertop is a unique handicraft made in a single item, an original design, warmth of amber and discretion of silver. When I wear it, I feel attractive and sophisticated”

What’s the secret of originality? “Our products are handmade. This is a great advantage because Polish market is flooded with cheap, low-quality, mass-produced jewellery," explains Dorota. Because of this, the Ambertop Gallery has preserved the true art of jewellery. Jewellery designed and made to identify with its owner. Hence this jewellery is never bought accidentally, while out doing other shopping. The owner of the gallery admits that clients come back for more. “They watch, try to feel amber and sometimes they have some nagging doubts about the size of the stones – large pieces of amber are most expressive. Large pieces aren’t always readily available though, so we try to keep those beautiful, big stones in their natural form,” she says.

So how is the jewellery produced? Amber stones are put together with straps, cord, leather and silver. They can be joined with other stones such as agate, coral and turquoise. The design process is often a difficult and long task, which starts in artist’s mind, and is then transferred on a piece of paper. This process takes time, as the designer has to take into consideration few main rules of making jewellery – functionality, the beauty of stone, the visual appearance, and – most importantly - good taste. Any design that does not start with an artistic spark will never leave the drawing-board. Creativity runs in Dorota’s family; her daughter helps out at the gallery, and taking care of marketing and public relations. She has just graduated from the University of Arts in London. As a graduate in both “Fashion Design” and “Art and Design” she has gone on launch her own energetic fashion brand.

Dorota is currently working on a new collection which will be based on different materials and precious stones. It will be reflection of today's fashion trends. Inspired by world travel, always fresh, on trend and unique, a blend of nature and culture, tradition and modernity. As today’s jewellery market becomes increasingly saturated with cheap and tacky pieces – the need to create something unique becomes much greater.

To find out more about Ambertop, visit www.ambertop.pl
 

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