M 420

Collection

Metalwork

Brief description

Iron rushlight and candle holder with a wooden base, made in Ireland, 1700-1800.

Object name

rushlight and candle holder

Object number

M 420

Location

On Display

Production date

1700-1800 (manufactured)

Production place

Ireland (manufactured)

Period

Stuart (1603-1714)
Georgian (1714-1837)

Material

iron
wood

Technique

wrought
hammered
joined

Physical description

Iron rushlight on an irregular wooden hexagonal base, consisting of a vertical rush holder with a long socket and horizontal nip bits, and a socket for a candle on a pronounced u-bend with a 'v' shape in its rim. The rushlight shows evidence of metal joining.

Dimensions

Height: 20.5cm
Width: 10cm
Depth: 8cm
Diameter: 7cm

Website keywords

candle and rush lighting

Label

Label text for 'Lighting the home' case, Information Bay 5, Geffrye Museum, 2010:
Rush-light holder, or ‘rushnip’, eighteenth century
Iron and wood
Dried rushes dipped in melted fat supplied the cheapest form of lighting. The rush was held horizontally between the holder’s iron ‘pincers’, and one end was lit. It would burn for about twenty minutes, but could give additional light if both ends were lit. This practice gave rise to the expression ‘burning the candle at both ends’.