Antique wooden candle boxes in the 1700's and 1800's
- Jan 8, 2011
- 1 min read
candleboxes Did you know candle boxes were originally made to protect precious candles from being eaten by rats, mice and other vermin up until the early 1800's?
Candles in the main were made from animal based tallow ( from sheep and cattle), unless you were incredibly rich where you would have beeswax ones, animal tallow candles would still have been used by the servants though. These candles would have given off a foul smell when burnt and a smoky flame. The animal fat odour even when not alight would have attracted these vermin, so candle boxes were made to keep their supplies of candles safe.
Sometimes candle boxes even had coarse flour or bran in them to prevent the candles sticking to each other.
There sometimes is confusion as to what shape wooden candle boxes were, like anything else there is always going to be exceptions to this as almost every house hold would have had a candle box of some form positioned either in the kitchen by the stairs or in other convenient positions in the house, but as a general guide wall hanging candle boxes were rectangular in shape hanging vertically with a front sliding lid or hanging horizontally with a lift up lid. Tapered boxes often used and described as being for candles today, were in fact for kitchen knives and forks.
Next week interesting facts on antique treen spice towers.
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This is a fascinating look at how practical household items like candle boxes evolved to protect essential supplies from pests in the 18th century. It is interesting to see how the choice of materials and placement within the home was dictated by the specific needs of the era, much like how modern companies today must weigh the pros and cons of nearshore vs offshore locations when deciding where to store and manage their resources. Just as a 1700s household needed its candles in a "convenient position" to be effective, businesses today prioritize proximity and accessibility to ensure their operations run smoothly and securely.
This article on antique wooden candle boxes is fascinating! I love learning how these early designs protected candles from vermin and became useful household pieces. It got me curious about history and even about fun facts like hackathon management platform such a unique thing to think about while reading antiques content
It’s fascinating how something as simple as a candle box was once a high-stakes security measure against hungry rodents! The transition from smelly animal tallow to the refined beeswax used by the wealthy really shows how even the most basic household items were status symbols in the 1700s.
While we no longer have to worry about mice eating our light sources, the idea of protecting "precious" items still resonates—especially when it comes to delicate treats. If you're hosting a historically-inspired dinner or just want a refined dessert that matches that antique aesthetic, using mini chocolate cups to fill with a rich ganache or cream is a much more modern (and delicious) way to display your "supplies." They offer that same sense…
This article on antique wooden candle boxes is fascinating! I love learning how these early designs protected candles from vermin and became useful household pieces. It got me curious about history and even about fun facts like Nadia Dajani Zodiac Sign such a unique thing to think about while reading antiques content