The life of Fryderyk Chopin, one of Poland’s greatest composers, is filled with mysteries. For years, researchers have focused mainly on his musical achievements, health, and complex personal relationships. However, our latest research sheds new light on an unexpected aspect of his life – his fascination with amber.

After several years of archival research and letter analysis, we have confirmed that at least three times after 1845, amber and other food products were delivered to Paris by Count Zygmunt Krasiński and his wife Eliza to Delfina Potocka – Fryderyk Chopin’s close friend. Was Chopin the one who requested amber? We may only find the answer when the surviving letters between the countess and Chopin are revealed by the Potocki and Raczyński families or other private owners.

Currently, the primary sources of information are existing publications, including The Correspondence of Fryderyk Chopin compiled by Bronisław Edward Sydow (700 letters) and Letters to Delfina Potocka by Zygmunt Krasiński (edited by Zbigniew Sudolski). Our interest in amber in Chopin’s life was also inspired by English-language publications by authors such as David Grimaldi (2006, USA), Michael Moran (2010, Australia), and Rachel King (2022, UK), who all mention Chopin’s connections with amber.

One of our most surprising findings was a letter written by Chopin in 1847, where he used the phrase: “he is as pure as amber.” This is the only known example where Chopin compares a person to amber, which suggests he had a deep appreciation and understanding of its unique properties.

As a creator of unique amber and wood jewelry, I decided to give this discovery a visual form by creating a pastiche of Chopin’s portrait, inspired by H. Lechmann’s 1845 drawing. In my version, Chopin holds a piece of amber – a symbol of his fascination and connection with this extraordinary material.

This special artwork was presented for the first time at this year’s Amberif trade fair in Gdańsk and at the Echo of Amberexhibition at the new headquarters of the International Amber Association. Our goal is not only to highlight Chopin’s unique relationship with amber but also to encourage further research and discussion on the topic.

We are looking for individuals interested in collaborating with us and promoting this new, fascinating image of Fryderyk Chopin holding amber. We believe that this discovery enriches both our understanding of the composer and the cultural significance of amber in 19th-century Europe.

Feel free to reach out – let’s keep the discussion going!

Marta Włodarska Zbigniew Włodarski
Amberwood