Maddie James
Candles were a necessity in medieval times, when lighting options were limited to open fires, torches, and oil lamps. The Middle Ages saw significant progress in candle-making techniques, with tallow candles being the most common type due to their affordability. However, beeswax candles were considered a luxury and were favoured for their cleaner burn and pleasant aroma. They were predominantly used by the church and the wealthy, while tallow candles were more common among the general population. Medieval coil candles, made of beeswax with cotton wicks, were used as timers due to their consistent burn time. The craft of candle-making was passed down through generations, and the use of moulds and innovative production techniques further revolutionised the industry.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Time period | Medieval times (Middle Ages) |
| Common household candle | Tallow candles |
| Candle-making | Became a guild craft in England and France in the 13th century |
| Candle-makers | Known as "chandlers" |
| Raw material | Kitchen fats |
| Wick | Made of cotton |
| Candle type | Medieval coil candle |
| Function | Used as a timer and light |
| Raw material | Beeswax |
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What You'll Learn
Medieval coil candles were made from beeswax or tallow
Beeswax was a byproduct of honey collection, collected after honey was extracted and then purified by boiling it in seawater. Medieval coil candles could be made by dipping or rolling. The dipping method involved drawing the wick in molten wax or tallow repeatedly until the candle reached the desired size. This process was also used by the Romans to make dipped candles. However, the dipping method produces a smaller candle, as the wick can only be dipped once or twice before it becomes too stiff to bend.
The other method for making medieval coil candles was to shape the candle by hand, a technique known as "rolled candle making". To make a rolled candle, the wax is first softened in warm water, then taken out in pieces and gradually built around a cotton wick. Once the candle is large enough, it is made perfectly round and smooth by rolling it on a hardwood table.
In the 1400s, a French inventor introduced moulds for taper candles, which provided an alternative to the dipping and rolling methods.
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Wicks were made from cotton
Wicks made from cotton were used in medieval candles. Cotton was unravelled and braided into a three-strand plait to create the wick. This technique allowed the wick to curl over as it burned, maintaining the height of the wick and, therefore, the flame. This type of wick is referred to as "self-trimming" or "self-consuming" because much of the excess wick is incinerated.
Cotton wicks were used in medieval coil candles, which were made from beeswax. Beeswax was a byproduct of honey collection and was purified by boiling it in seawater several times. Medieval coil candles were made by dipping the wick into melted beeswax, or by rolling softened beeswax around a wick.
Coil candles were used as a kind of clock or timer, as they always took the same amount of time to burn through a winding. Nails were placed at certain points along the candle, and people would hear the nail hit the ground when it burned down to that point.
Candles in medieval times were also made from tallow, which was rendered animal fat. Tallow candles were the most common type of candle due to the cheap and readily available nature of the material. Beeswax candles, on the other hand, were more expensive and used predominantly by the wealthy and the Church.
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Tallow chandlers were candle makers
The Tallow Chandlers' Company, formed in about 1300, regulated oils, ointments, lubricants, and fat-based preservatives, and managed candle-making using tallow. The company expanded in membership and influence over the next 150 years, and was granted a coat of arms by Henry VI in 1456, followed by full livery status by Edward IV in 1462. The company's first charter, granted in 1462, gave the Tallow Chandlers the authority to seize and destroy inferior goods associated with the trade.
Tallow chandlers played a key role in compulsory street lighting in London, and their candles were used to light the streets and homes of Londoners. The production of tallow was considered a disgusting and smelly job, and tallow producers were often moved about the city due to complaints about the rendering process. Tallow chandlers also had to lodge complaints with butchers for supplying tallow that was mixed with butter, pig fat, or animal guts.
The trade of tallow chandlers declined at the end of the 17th century with the introduction of new candle-making materials such as spermaceti and paraffin wax. However, tallow continued to be important in the manufacture of soap, and it is still used today in soap-making and as a biodiesel fuel.
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Beeswax was a byproduct of honey collection
Beeswax candles were produced using a variety of methods. One method was dipping or drawing the wick in molten fat or wax repeatedly until it reached the desired size. Another method was building the candle by hand, which involved rolling soft wax around a wick. A third method was pouring fat or wax onto a wick to build up the candle. In the 1400s, a French inventor introduced moulds for taper candles.
To make a medieval coil candle, one would first need to create a wick from cotton string. This was done by unravelling the string and then braiding the strands into a three-strand braid. The candle could then be made by dipping the wick into molten beeswax, or by shaping it by hand, which involved softening the wax in warm water and then gradually building it around the wick.
Beeswax candles were superior to tallow candles, burning brighter and longer, with less smoke and a more pleasant smell. However, beeswax was more difficult to obtain, which is why its use was limited to the upper classes and the Church in Europe.
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Romans made dipped candles from tallow and beeswax
The Romans are credited with developing wicked candles before Ancient Egyptians by dipping rolled papyrus repeatedly in melted tallow or beeswax. Tallow, the fat from cows or sheep, was the standard material used in candles in Europe. It was cheap and easily available, making tallow candles the most widely used type of candle for centuries. However, the manufacturing process and the unpleasant smell of tallow candles led to their production being banned by ordinance in several European cities.
Beeswax, a byproduct of honey collection, was introduced as an alternative to tallow in the 1500s. Beeswax candles burned brighter and longer with less smoke, and they emitted a sweet smell rather than a foul odour. However, beeswax was more challenging to obtain, making it more expensive than tallow. As a result, beeswax candles were used almost exclusively by the wealthy and the Church in Europe.
Candle-making techniques in Europe during the early periods included dipping or drawing a wick in molten wax or tallow, shaping it by hand by rolling soft wax around a wick, or pouring wax or tallow over the wick. By the 13th century, candlemaking had become a guild craft in England and France. Candlemakers (chandlers) went from house to house, making candles from kitchen fats or selling their own candles from small shops.
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Frequently asked questions
Candles in medieval times were made from tallow (animal fat) or beeswax.
Tallow candles were made by dipping a wick into molten fat or wax repeatedly until it reached the desired size.
Beeswax was collected as a byproduct of honey collection and then purified by boiling it in seawater. To make a candle, the wax was softened in warm water, shaped by hand around a wick, or poured onto a wick to build up the candle.
Beeswax candles were seen as a luxury item and were used by the church and the wealthy. They were valued for their clean burn and pleasant aroma.
