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Dominican amber exhibits many bright colors in a true beautiful unbeatable variety such as yellow, opaque, white, red, black, green, blue, silver, pink and purple. Fossil remains of fauna and flora are trapped in amber.

Amber from the Dominican Republic has been used as an excellent raw material in the elaboration of delicate decorative figures and of exquisite pieces of jewelry that reflect all the splendor and beauty of this precious stone. A good sample of what amber has been for Dominicans throughout the years is on display at the Museo Mundo de Ámbar (Amber World Museum), located in the colonial area of Santo Domingo, in a 17th-century building.

Dominican Craftsmanship, A Highly Prized Value

Tourists can have a delightful time hanging around the attractive markets and streets of the capital as the Model Market, the Creole Square, El Conde Street, Las Atarazanas and Casa de Bastidas where it is possible to choose among a large variety of articles as horns, shell conches, amber, larimar, pottery, ceramics or basketworks.

Oil naïf paintings, original from Haiti, the neighbor country, has become another of the most characteristic items of the Dominican Republic, local artists have added to this art, their own colorful elements and motifs, granting them personality and attraction.

Art Flows Through Dominicans' Veins Sculpture lovers will be captivated by the beauty of the mahogany figures, masks of diablos cojuelos (naughty little devils) or by the nice music boxes. Limé dolls are also a part of the Dominican Republic craftsmanship. Showing an anonymous countenance, wearing a long dress, carrying water in jars, selling fruits or offering flowers or with the head covered by a headscarf, Limé decorative figures have been in high demand nationally and internationally for their artistic and technical quality.

USEFUL ADDRESSES - Museo Mundo de Ámbar (Amber World Museum) . Arz. Meriño 452 esq. Restauración. Zona Colonial, Santo Domingo, D.N. Tel.: (809) 682-3309. - Galería de Arte El Pincel. (EL Pincel Art Gallery) C/ Gustavo Mejía Ricart 24, ensanche NACO. Santo Domingo. Tel.: (809) 544-4295 563- 8019. - Galería de Arte de Betty Marshall (Betty Marshall´s Art Gallery). C/ Isabel La Católica 163, esq. Luperón; Plaza María de Toledo. Santo Domingo. - Small trade squares decorate Santo Domingo as the - Mercado Modelo on Ave. Mella. There are other squares of this sort named Andalucía, Central or Criolla. The working hours are the following: 8:30 a.m. or 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 m and in the afternoon from 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m..