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‘Lux perpetua’…ceaseless light….
A
very brief (but hopefully illuminating!) history of oil lamps…
They
have existed from pre-history to the present.
No one knows with any precision when the first light from an oil source
was used, but from archeological findings, we know that ancient man was using
hollowed out stones, seashells and other natural objects in the Stone Age, 10th
century B.C, filled with animal fats or moss with pine pitch.
In
biblical times, the use of the oil lamp was widespread, and was a frequently
used metaphor and symbol in many biblical passages. Perhaps not remarkable
given its purpose and necessity in ancient times, the oil lamp played an integrally
important role in the histories and traditions of many faiths and cultures
around the world—and many of these traditions continue to the present day.
The
first ‘mass produced’ object in human history was probably the oil lamp,
occurring in the times of the ancient Greeks and Romans, between the first and
third centuries A.D. Made from molds, terra cotta clay lamps were commonly
used, burning olive oil or animal fats, with wicks made from twisted woven
cotton or linen. As time passed, the
evolution of the shape of the oil lamp also changed, from bowl-shaped to
saucer-shaped, and then from saucer with a nozzle to a closed bowl with spout. Some
lamps held four or more wicks. In
addition to clay, lamps were made from bronze, stone, alabaster and granite,
often with elaborate designs and religious symbols.
Over
centuries of use, the design of the oil lamp did not undergo major change until
the 1700’s, but one historical footnote is of interest…the oil lamp used by
Leonardo da Vinci was invented in
1490. The flame was enclosed in a glass
tube placed inside a water-filled glass globe. Leonardo’s lamp not only burned
more steadily, but also produced better illumination, due the diffusion of the
light by the water.
Beginning
in the 1700’s, oil lamps became much more efficient when a Swiss chemist, Aime
Argand, invented a lamp using a round burner and circular wick. This design
allowed for a strong draft of air to reach the flame which intensified the
light, and the flame was further enhanced by use of a glass chimney. In the mid-
1800’s paraffin oil or kerosene was introduced, taking the place of whale oil
and vegetable fats, further improving
the quality of the illumination. At the
same time, however, new and giant strides were being made in the search for
better illumination with the introduction of natural gas and the dramatic
arrival of electricity and in 1879, the electric light bulb. The flame of the
intrepid and ancient oil lamp was flickering, but not extinguished, thank
goodness!
Today
we have gorgeous, ultra pure paraffin oils in gem colors and everlasting fiberglass
wicks and a diversity of lamp designs… but what has not changed is the human
attraction to the flame itself. An oil lamp is a moveable hearth, a spiritual
and religious symbol, and it is there whenever a light is needed—for romance,
for celebration, for
reflection, in memory of, or to light the way in the dark….
As
was said in ancient times to announce the first hour of evening…"It is lamp
lighting time"…
We hope this will become
your evening tradition, as it is ours.
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