Candle: Difference between revisions
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==period [[candles]]== |
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For information on period lighting, including candles, see [[lighting]]. |
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Period candles could be made from two materials - [[tallow]] or [[beeswax]]. Tallow candles were yellow and smelly, whereas beeswax candles were nearly white and if they smelt at all, it was a pleasant smell of honey. While the poor made do with tallow candles, the rich and the church used beeswax candles refined so they were as white and pure as possible. Modern candles are generally made from the very white parrafin, and many yellow beeswax candles availible today are deliberately coloured yellow or purified less to keep a yellow colour to distinguish them from parafin (although sometimes you can get asian imports beeswax candles that are cheaper and whiter, although some may contain part parrafin). |
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Modern candles are molded (giving them their uniform width), a techniques that was not known until late in period. Prior to this candles were produced by techniqes such as dipping, dripping or rolling, all of which were very time consuming, adding to the cost of this article. Because of this non-uniform width, most candle holders or [[candelabra]] were of the variety with a bowl to catch drips and a spike to impale the candle on. Candleabra with fitted sockets for candles are a very late period invention, as they must postdate the common manufacture of molded candles. (although you can use these to hold your new oil lamp :-)) |
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Until the renaisance, candles were not prefered as the main source of lighting a home - oil lamps were much more economical and equally bright, with no smell. Beeswax candles were used extensively by the church however, where lighting candles was important for religeous purposes. |
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Large fat bees[[wax]] candles are good - you can often buy them cheaply, they are a good imitation of period candles, white/cream ones usually don't contain nasty scents that people have allergies to, and they should last nicely, without going out, through several [[feast]]s. They also generally keep the light at the height required for seeing your [[food]]. |
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see also: |
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The tall white emergency candles generally require a candlestand, drip wax more, blow out more often and shed less light, but still work quite well. You can generally buy a pack of 10 from the [[supermarket]] for just a few dollars. |
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*[[lighting]] |
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Tealight candles, are cheap and provide lots of light, however they burn very hotly, heating up the feast hall, which in the Australian [[winter]] is generally quite hot enough by the time everyone arrives (and let's not mention the Australian [[summer]]). They also go out easily, wax stain [[tablecloth]]s (and more permanently than other candle types) and can be hotter to touch. Other types of candles (including the very similar, but less hot votive candles) are much better alternatives for an indoor feast. |
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Revision as of 16:09, 10 September 2003
period candles
Period candles could be made from two materials - tallow or beeswax. Tallow candles were yellow and smelly, whereas beeswax candles were nearly white and if they smelt at all, it was a pleasant smell of honey. While the poor made do with tallow candles, the rich and the church used beeswax candles refined so they were as white and pure as possible. Modern candles are generally made from the very white parrafin, and many yellow beeswax candles availible today are deliberately coloured yellow or purified less to keep a yellow colour to distinguish them from parafin (although sometimes you can get asian imports beeswax candles that are cheaper and whiter, although some may contain part parrafin). Modern candles are molded (giving them their uniform width), a techniques that was not known until late in period. Prior to this candles were produced by techniqes such as dipping, dripping or rolling, all of which were very time consuming, adding to the cost of this article. Because of this non-uniform width, most candle holders or candelabra were of the variety with a bowl to catch drips and a spike to impale the candle on. Candleabra with fitted sockets for candles are a very late period invention, as they must postdate the common manufacture of molded candles. (although you can use these to hold your new oil lamp :-)) Until the renaisance, candles were not prefered as the main source of lighting a home - oil lamps were much more economical and equally bright, with no smell. Beeswax candles were used extensively by the church however, where lighting candles was important for religeous purposes. Period candles were generally white or wax coloured, but there are some Renaissance examples of red, green and black candles. Votive candles were an important use for wax in period.
see also:
- modern Candles for sca feasts
- lighting
