http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41250000/jpg/_41250042_ambergris_27.jpg
Expelled from the abdomen of the giant sperm whale, often while hundreds of miles away from land, ambergris is a natural excrement thought to be used by the whale as a digestion aid.
The hard beaks of giant squid, a main source of food for the whale, have often been found inside lumps of ambergris.
Initially, ambergris is a soft, foul-smelling waste matter that floats on the ocean.
But years of exposure to the sun and the salt water of the ocean transform the waste into a smooth, exotic lump of compact rock that boasts a waxy feel and a sweet, alluring smell.
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 24 January 2006 15:55 (twenty years ago)
― lauren (laurenp), Tuesday, 24 January 2006 15:59 (twenty years ago)
― The Late Fear And The Potato Fear (kate), Tuesday, 24 January 2006 16:00 (twenty years ago)
― Laurel (Laurel), Tuesday, 24 January 2006 16:01 (twenty years ago)
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 24 January 2006 16:02 (twenty years ago)
― Laurel (Laurel), Tuesday, 24 January 2006 16:06 (twenty years ago)
"The entire room was a masterpiece and one of the largest works of jeweled art ever made. Tons (literally) of high quality amber, accented with diamonds, emeralds, jade, onyx and rubies decorated the walls of Catherine the Great's summer palace in Russia. The reigning czars who succeeded and preceded Catherine cherished the unique jeweled spectacle.
"For more than 50 years the "Amber Room," as it became known, awed those who were fortunate enough to see it. Then in 1942, during the German occupation of Russia, the Nazis visited the palace. They, like many, were captivated by the Amber Room's beauty. In fact, they were so captivated that they stole it. The Nazi's justification was that the room was a piece of Germanic culture. They believed they had a right to it. At least, that was what Hitler told them...."
I saw a show on it once.
― andy --, Tuesday, 24 January 2006 18:24 (twenty years ago)
― AaronK (AaronK), Tuesday, 24 January 2006 18:31 (twenty years ago)
― Jaq (Jaq), Tuesday, 24 January 2006 18:37 (twenty years ago)
My introduction to ambergris.
― elmo, patron saint of nausea (allocryptic), Tuesday, 24 January 2006 19:02 (twenty years ago)
― Oblivious Lad. (Oblivious Lad), Tuesday, 24 January 2006 19:07 (twenty years ago)
― Forksclovetofu (Forksclovetofu), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 06:59 (twenty years ago)
― Mr. Latham Green (hanle y 3000), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 07:20 (twenty years ago)
― Eric H. (Eric H.), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 08:25 (twenty years ago)
https://www.estacio-records.com/store/tkxdoc/goods_img/ambergris.jpg
― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 21:35 (twenty years ago)
― The Milkmaid (of human kindness) (The Milkmaid), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 21:37 (twenty years ago)
― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 21:37 (twenty years ago)
http://www.ambergristoday.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/page_full/image/flashback_ambergris_lodge_party.jpg
― + +, Tuesday, 13 August 2013 14:24 (twelve years ago)
got this record over the weekend on the cover alone, and hey whaddayaknow it's fucking awesome
― flappy bird, Tuesday, 27 November 2018 20:51 (seven years ago)
Lol fuck this is an ILE thread
― flappy bird, Tuesday, 27 November 2018 20:52 (seven years ago)
theres a record of whale poo?
― F# A# (∞), Tuesday, 27 November 2018 20:53 (seven years ago)
Humpback intestines also undergo a cultural revolution every few years.
― Sanpaku, Tuesday, 27 November 2018 20:56 (seven years ago)