Let there be light
The saying ‘not worth the candle’ strikes a chord with even the most frivolous of us. For centuries candles were precious commodities, only to be used sparingly and with permission. It wasn’t unusual for the master of the house to keep the candles under lock and key and measure the usage at the end of the evening.
The very earliest candles were made from tallow (animal fat), which is an effective material, although rather smelly. Candle makers (chandlers) would go from house to house making candles from the kitchen fats saved for that purpose, or make and sell their own candles from small candle shops. Such was the importance of their work that by the 13th century their craft had become a guild both here and in France.
It wasn’t until the Middle Ages that beeswax was discovered as an effective alternative, although it was (and remains) considerably more expensive. For the smarter houses however, the benefits outweighed the cost. Unlike tallow, beeswax burns cleanly without giving off a smoky flame and has a rather sweet smell, which was particularly helpful in Georgian times for disguising the everyday odours of the household. Churches were particularly keen on using beeswax as it meant the lack of smoke lent a purer look to the religious proceedings.
A good chandler was well respected and well rewarded, with small fortunes made by an enterprising few. Although not a chandler, in 1707 William Fortnum was a footman in Queen Anne’s household, his sole job to replace the candles used by the Royal Family – royalty could never dine at a table with a used candle.
A perk of Fortnum’s job was the used candles that he would sell on to the ladies of the Royal household for a profit. Such was the demand for his stock that he eventually convinced his landlord, Hugh Mason, to go into business with him in Piccadilly, where their shop remains to this day.
In the early part of the 19th century, with the demand for extensions of the working day increasing, candle making was revolutionised by a French chemist called Michel Eugene Chevreul, who discovered how to extract stearic acid from the tallow. The result was a cheaper, cleaner alternative that was also durable and less prone to ‘bending’ in the hot weather.
An Englishman, Joseph Morgan, was quick to take up the mantle and invented a machine that allowed for the continuous production of candles, making them less labour-intensive, if less beautiful. Paraffin wax was added to the mix and by the 1850s, even the poorest households could afford candlelight. However, little has changed in the method of candle making since its earliest inception. There are basically two methods: moulded or dipped. A dipped candle or ‘pillar’ candle is straight and narrow. It is made by dipping the wick numerous times into hot wax and allowing it to set before dipping again. The ideal is a lot of thin layers and it can take upwards of 100 dips to create a respectable candle.
A moulded candle is less timeconsuming, yet produces more interesting results.
Candle making is a growing craft and at this time of year a handmade candle makes a wonderful gift. Vintage moulds are worth seeking out – the older the more expensive of course, with some elegant Victorian church ones worth hundreds of pounds. Or, Candle Makers Supplies – 020-7602 4031, www.candlemakers.co.uk – has been holding workshops since the 1960s and has a wonderful collection of its own moulds.
Once the wax is heated, and the wick in place, it really is a case of pour and wait. And, as with most things, practice makes perfect. Alternatively, relax, put your feet up and light one that someone else made earlier.
The very earliest candles were made from tallow (animal fat), which is an effective material, although rather smelly. Candle makers (chandlers) would go from house to house making candles from the kitchen fats saved for that purpose, or make and sell their own candles from small candle shops. Such was the importance of their work that by the 13th century their craft had become a guild both here and in France.
It wasn’t until the Middle Ages that beeswax was discovered as an effective alternative, although it was (and remains) considerably more expensive. For the smarter houses however, the benefits outweighed the cost. Unlike tallow, beeswax burns cleanly without giving off a smoky flame and has a rather sweet smell, which was particularly helpful in Georgian times for disguising the everyday odours of the household. Churches were particularly keen on using beeswax as it meant the lack of smoke lent a purer look to the religious proceedings.
A good chandler was well respected and well rewarded, with small fortunes made by an enterprising few. Although not a chandler, in 1707 William Fortnum was a footman in Queen Anne’s household, his sole job to replace the candles used by the Royal Family – royalty could never dine at a table with a used candle.
A perk of Fortnum’s job was the used candles that he would sell on to the ladies of the Royal household for a profit. Such was the demand for his stock that he eventually convinced his landlord, Hugh Mason, to go into business with him in Piccadilly, where their shop remains to this day.
In the early part of the 19th century, with the demand for extensions of the working day increasing, candle making was revolutionised by a French chemist called Michel Eugene Chevreul, who discovered how to extract stearic acid from the tallow. The result was a cheaper, cleaner alternative that was also durable and less prone to ‘bending’ in the hot weather.
An Englishman, Joseph Morgan, was quick to take up the mantle and invented a machine that allowed for the continuous production of candles, making them less labour-intensive, if less beautiful. Paraffin wax was added to the mix and by the 1850s, even the poorest households could afford candlelight. However, little has changed in the method of candle making since its earliest inception. There are basically two methods: moulded or dipped. A dipped candle or ‘pillar’ candle is straight and narrow. It is made by dipping the wick numerous times into hot wax and allowing it to set before dipping again. The ideal is a lot of thin layers and it can take upwards of 100 dips to create a respectable candle.
A moulded candle is less timeconsuming, yet produces more interesting results.
Candle making is a growing craft and at this time of year a handmade candle makes a wonderful gift. Vintage moulds are worth seeking out – the older the more expensive of course, with some elegant Victorian church ones worth hundreds of pounds. Or, Candle Makers Supplies – 020-7602 4031, www.candlemakers.co.uk – has been holding workshops since the 1960s and has a wonderful collection of its own moulds.
Once the wax is heated, and the wick in place, it really is a case of pour and wait. And, as with most things, practice makes perfect. Alternatively, relax, put your feet up and light one that someone else made earlier.