Maddie James
In colonial America, candle-making was an essential chore in all households. The average household needed about 400 candles a year, and there were no commercial candles available for purchase. As a result, candle-making was a common practice across all colonies. The process of candle-making involved using animal fat or tallow, and the wicks were often made from cotton or linen. Some colonies, such as those in New England and Florida, also used bayberry plants to make candles, which created a pleasant smell and gave off little smoke. With the development of whaling in the late 1700s, whale oil became another popular option for candle-making.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Colonies in America, England, France, Syria, Iran, China |
| Time Period | 13th century, 1500s-1600s, 1743, 1848, 1850s, mid-1980s |
| Candle-making Process | Dipping wicks in wax or fat, molding, boiling berries, using candlewood |
| Candle Types | Tallow, beeswax, whale oil, paraffin wax, bayberry |
| People Involved | Women, chandlers, merchants, farmers |
| Usage | Lighting, decorative, symbolic, ceremonial |
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What You'll Learn
Colonial women's contribution to candlemaking
Colonial women made candles by repeatedly dipping candle rods with a row of wicks into large iron kettles of boiling water and melted tallow. This process, known as candle-dipping, was extremely tiresome and lasted all day. Women typically made about 400 candles in a year, which were sparingly used as a source of light during the long winter nights.
Candles were a necessity in Colonial America, where homes were pitch-dark, and there were no street lights. The first in-house lighting in the northern and southern colonies was provided by pine knots from fat pitch pine, which produced wonderful light but also messy tar residue and a lot of smoke. As the number of cattle increased in the colonies, farmers began saving the tallow residue from the animal fat to make candles. These waxy stalks were highly prized for their usefulness and the difficulty in producing them.
Colonial women offered America's first contribution to candlemaking when they discovered that boiling the grey-green berries of bayberry bushes produced a sweet-smelling wax that burned cleanly. However, extracting the wax from the bayberries was extremely tedious, requiring about 15 pounds of berries to make one pound of wax, so the popularity of bayberry candles soon diminished.
The growth of the whaling industry in the late 18th century brought another major change to candlemaking, when spermaceti, a wax obtained by crystallising sperm whale oil, became available in large quantities. In the mid-19th century, the introduction of paraffin wax, derived from coal and oil shales, provided an inexpensive and clean-burning alternative to tallow candles. However, early paraffin wax had a low melting point, which was eventually overcome by adding stearic acid, discovered by French chemist Michel Eugene Chevreul in the 1820s.
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Tallow candles
In Colonial America, tallow candles were also used, with farmers saving the tallow residue from increased cattle numbers to make candles. The process involved setting up two large kettles over the fire in the hearth, and the resulting waxy stalks were highly prized for their usefulness and the difficulty in producing them.
The introduction of paraffin wax in the 1850s marked a significant change in candlemaking. Paraffin could be used to make inexpensive, high-quality candles that burned cleanly and consistently, with no unpleasant odour. This led to a decline in the use of tallow candles, which had been commonly used in European households.
The growth of the whaling industry in the late 18th century also contributed to a shift in candlemaking. Spermaceti, a wax derived from sperm whale oil, became available in large quantities, providing an alternative to tallow.
Today, tallow candles are still crafted by artisans, who blend traditional methods with modern innovations, creating natural and effective products that extend beyond candles, including soaps and body oils.
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Whaling industry's impact
The whaling industry had a significant impact on candle-making, particularly in the 18th and 19th centuries. During this period, the production of spermaceti candles, derived from the waxy substance found in the head cavities of sperm whales, was a lucrative business. The whaling industry contributed to the growth of candle-making, as whale oil and wax were essential raw materials.
Whale oil had been used for centuries, including in medieval Europe as an illuminant, lubricant, and even food. However, the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century brought new uses for whale oil in Europe and America, such as in the tempering of steel, screw cutting, and cordage manufacture. The bright, clean-burning flames of spermaceti candles were considered luxury items, and their high-quality light made them perfect for lighting homes, businesses, and places of worship. The whaling industry, therefore, played a crucial role in meeting the growing demand for high-quality candles.
The whaling industry was well-organized, with ships from ports in New England travelling as far as the Pacific in search of specific whale species. The whaling ships returned with the harvested spermaceti to candle-making workshops in Europe and the United States. The intricate distribution channels and trade networks of the spermaceti candle industry were global in scale.
However, the whaling industry also faced dangers and challenges. Whaling was a physically and economically dangerous business, with injuries and deaths common on whaling voyages. Most individuals involved in whaling did not get rich, and the success of whaling ventures depended on the ability to exploit the commercial value of whale products.
The decline of the whaling industry and its impact on candle-making began with growing concerns about sustainability and the impact on whale populations. The development of alternative sources of light and lubrication, such as kerosene lamps, electric lighting, and petroleum-based lubricants, caused a decrease in demand for whale-based products, including spermaceti candles. Today, the spermaceti candle industry is a thing of the past, replaced by more sustainable and ethical alternatives.
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Pine knots as candlewood
Pine knots, also known as candlewood, were the first and most natural way to light colonial homes in America. They were used by the original inhabitants of North America and were adopted by the earliest European settlers in the New World.
Pine knots were made from fat pitch pine, which was commonly referred to as fatwood, fat-lighter, light-wood, rich-lighter, lighter-knot, or heart pine. The longleaf pine or Pinus palustris was valued for its high pitch production. The resin-rich heartwood of the pine tree was burned to produce light.
Pine knots were favoured for their brightness and longevity, and they continued to be used in some parts of the United States into the early 20th century. They were also wind-resistant and could be lit even when wet. However, burning pine knots produced an oily, sooty smoke and a tar residue, and they were considered messier than other forms of lighting.
Pine knots were used by colonists in Virginia, New York, and New England, and were especially important for those who could not afford other sources of light. As cattle-rearing became more common in the colonies, tallow candles made from animal fat became more popular, and candlemaking became a craft.
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Beeswax candles
Beeswax is a byproduct of honey collection, and it is collected and purified after honey extraction. The early methods of candle production included dipping or drawing the wick in molten wax, rolling soft wax around a wick, or pouring wax onto a wick. These methods were used by Colonial women in America, who discovered that boiling the berries of bayberry bushes produced a sweet-smelling wax, although the process was tedious and fell out of popularity.
Beeswax candle-making kits are also available for those who want to experiment with creating their own candles, and companies like Beelite supply molds, wicks, and bulk beeswax for candle crafters. Beeswax candle kits provide the necessary tools and instructions for beginners to get started with candle-making.
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Frequently asked questions
The original European settlers in the New World brought a limited supply of candles. The communities were small and candle merchants were few and far between, leaving most settlers to mould their own candles. Therefore, all colonies from New England to Florida had a lot of candle makers.
Animal tallow was a common ingredient in candles in the colonies. Tallow is the fat from cows or sheep.
Tallow was used in candles because it was readily available. As the number of cattle increased in the colonies, farmers began saving the tallow residue from animal fat to make candles.
Yes, some colonists enjoyed the scent of bayberry candles. However, it took about 15 pounds of berries to make one pound of wax, so these candles were impractical for most households.
Candle-making involved setting up two large kettles over the fire in the hearth. It took about six hours for the fat to melt in an iron kettle. The tallow was then rendered out of the animal fat through cloth, removing the solids. The tallow was either stored for future use or transferred to a pot for reheating and dipping the candles.
