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Posts from Heddels for 11/13/2023
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By James on Nov 13, 2023 12:01 am
Sources of light, comfort, and even time-keeping, candles are the most primitive light sources that remain commonplace in today’s world. The gentle flicker of a burning wick provides a luminary experience like no other, and when it is slowly melting thick wax is imbued with the pleasant scent of essential oils or natural extracts.
in the modern world, candles are used purely for decorative, aromatic, or ceremonial purposes, but prior to the invention of electricity and the lightbulb, candles — in conjunction with other fire-based light sources – played a crucial role in illuminating the human world, from the streets of Ancient Egypt to the desks of writers and politicians in the world’s most advanced cities.
In this article, we’re delving into the world of candles, from their humble, animal-fat-soaked beginnings to their place in modern society, filling our homes with comforting glows and aromas.
The History & Types of Candles
The depiction of rushlights being transported, via Ashwood Candles.
The definition of a candle is:
“An ignitable wick embedded in wax, or another flammable solid substance such as tallow, that provides light, and in some cases, a fragrance.”
Although candles are one of our oldest light sources, the fundamentals of their design have barely changed in almost a millennia – ‘a wick embedded in a flammable solid substance’. The Ancient Egyptians are credited with the first use of a wick-based lumination system, known as a rushlight. A rushlight is a type of candle or miniature torch formed by soaking the dried pith of the rush plant in fat or grease. The Ancient Egyptians are said to have soaked the pithy core of reeds in animal fat to create a light source that was then placed into a metal holder.
A typical rushlight sat in a traditional metal rushlight holder, via Julian Cartwright.
Rushlights are different from candles in that there is no wick — the pith is soaked/impregnated in the fat — but this Egyptian invention laid the foundation for the development of the modern candle.
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