Audrius Lukauskas, a resident of the Lithuanian port city of Klaipėda, says he is following the spirit of his ancestors by working as an amber catcher on the Baltic Coast.
“Amber catching was added to the Register of Intangible Cultural Heritage last year. I'm very proud to have contributed to that, even if just a little,” he says. “Ice fishing for smelt in the winter, spending the night in a tent on the ice – people think that's complete madness. Amber catching seems just as crazy to some. Maybe it is madness?”
Lukauskas is also a jeweller with three decades of experience. He keeps the exact locations of his best amber hunting spots a secret, but insists that, given the right conditions, amber can be found almost anywhere.
“This method – the catching technique – can be quite dull. You simply wade in and scoop up everything you find, then check if there's anything of value,” he explains. “Some pieces are huge and very rare. I won't turn those into anything. And amber with natural holes? That’s strictly taboo. You mustn’t sell it – doing so would break the amber hunter’s luck. But everything else? It can become anything, from a simple souvenir to a unique piece of jewellery.”
Despite the craftsmanship involved, Lukauskas says he sees his work as a hobby. Real creativity, he believes, only begins once the craft is mastered.
“Technical skills, even very good ones, are just that – skills,” he says. “When they are combined with imagination, with a vision, then you can start talking about artistic ambition – or even art itself. Without imagination, these technical tasks are just the execution of function.”
He draws inspiration from the distant past, particularly the Neolithic era and ancient amulets.
“My style is drawn from what our ancestors created,” he says. “But sometimes, nature itself gives the final word. I once found a piece of amber in the sea – nature had already created the art. I just had to fit it.”
Lukauskas makes jewellery from amber, often combining it with metal or wood. He does not speak of its healing properties, saying he is not a medical expert, but he is certain of one thing – amber jewellery is harmless.
As for how much amber is still left in the Baltic Sea, Lukauskas remains hopeful that nature’s supply will suffice for future creations.
“I don’t think the issue is that there’s less amber or that the sea has washed it all out. There’s no ice in the lagoons, no favourable winds. The sea’s terrain has changed due to unknown factors, the currents have shifted,” he explains. “Right now, they’re catching a good amount of amber in Poland.”
At present, Lukauskas is working actively, preparing for the upcoming summer tourism season and an exhibition in Germany.
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