Hanging the amber star on the vault of St. Mary's Basilica

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The First Amber Star in St. Mary's Basilica in Gdańsk

Can amber find its place not only in jewelry but also in one of the most important churches in Europe? The first amber star in history now hangs in the vault of St. Mary's Basilica. Made of Baltic amber, it was donated to the church by Międzynarodowe Targi Gdańskie (Gdańsk International Fair Co.).

This special event brought together two symbols of Gdańsk: the largest brick church in the world and amber, regarded for centuries as the treasure of Pomerania.

The first and only amber star

Of the roughly 600 stars decorating the vault of the church, all had been gold until now. This one is the first made of Baltic amber. As Msgr. Ireneusz Bradtke emphasized, it hangs in a special place, above the Councilors' Gate, through which representatives of the city authorities once entered the Basilica on their way from Artus Court. That is why the new star has become not only a work of art but also a symbolic link between the city's history, its heritage and contemporary Gdańsk craftsmanship.

Amber that tells the story of Gdańsk

The star was made by Daria Burkowska of the family workshop Dorbur. It is made of hand-ground and polished Baltic amber, copper and tin. It is an excellent example of how contemporary artists use Baltic amber not only in jewelry but also in artistic and ceremonial objects. Those interested in the variety of natural amber types can read the article:
Kolory bursztynu: paleta stworzona przez naturę (The Colors of Amber: A Palette Created by Nature)

There we show how many shades and structures Baltic gold can have.

Amber and craft are inseparable

During the ceremony, the president of Gdańsk International Fair Co., Andrzej Bojanowski, recalled the close connection between amber and craft, and the multigenerational tradition of working it in Gdańsk. It is thanks to the work of amber artisans that a raw nugget extracted from the Baltic shore can become a work of art, an element of interior decor or a unique ornament. More about the history, properties and significance of amber can be found in our section:
O bursztynie (About Amber)

80 years of rebuilding the church

The ceremony also had a historical dimension. Piotr Adamowicz, a member of parliament and Chair of the Committee on Culture, National Heritage and Media, who attended the hanging of the star, reminded the audience that although 80 years have passed since the end of World War II, the reconstruction of St. Mary's Basilica is still ongoing. The empty spaces visible on the vault bear witness to the scale of the wartime destruction and to the many years of effort to restore the church to its former glory. Every new star becomes part of this history.

Anyone can become a donor

Few people know that anyone can sponsor a star in the Basilica. The parish runs a donor program in which you can sponsor your own star with a dedication. You fill out an application form on the parish website, then choose the type of star and provide an intention (not too long, so that it can be engraved on the chosen star). Once consent to the processing of personal data is confirmed, all that remains is to make a bank transfer. A small star costs PLN 2,000, a medium one PLN 3,000 and a large one PLN 10,000. In addition to the star itself, each donor receives a commemorative certificate. It is one of the most unusual ways of supporting the renovation of a historic church in Poland.

Gdańsk Jewellery Week 2026 and the amber capital of the world

Donating the amber star is one of the activities promoting amber and Gdańsk's position as the World Amber Capital ahead of Gdańsk Jewellery Week 2026, which takes place October 2-4 at AMBEREXPO.

The event program included exhibitions, meetings with artists, shows and an attempt to set a Polish record in amber grinding.