Candle making in Colonial America was the process of producing candles from natural materials such as beeswax, tallow or spermaceti. This practice began in the 1600s by American colonists and continued for centuries until modern lighting sources were found.
Candle making was a common household activity in colonial times due to its necessity for providing illumination. This post will discuss the materials used as well as tools and techniques employed to make effective and long-lasting candles by American settlers during the Colonial era.
Materials Used During that Time In Colonial America, common material for candle making included animal fat called tallow which was commonly from cows, sheep, and other animals depending on food availability since many early Americans raised their own livestock. Beeswax was another important material used for candle making as it produced an especially bright light when made into candles.
Whale oil or whale blubber known as spermaceti was also employed for candle production among some of the wealthier colonists who had access to such exotic resources. All three waxes were melted down into a “slush” which could then be poured into simple hand-made molds made of wood or metal.
Tools Needed For Candle Making Someone practicing candlemaking in Colonial America would need a few basic tools: double boilers, ladles, and molds were necessary items for producing high-quality candles. Additionally, cotton wicks were harvested from webs spun by spiders or woven into sheets and then formed into small rolls that provided the fuel source inside each candle.
To finish off each individual candle mold, tightly twisted cords covered with grease could be inserted to help secure the wick in place during pouring of the melted wax mixture. Afterward, long pieces of twine attached along the side of a mold ensured a smooth shape on each completed candle stick while creating consistent results from batch to batch.
History
Candle making was an important craft in colonial America and dates as far back as the 1600s when colonists brought candles from Europe. Candles were seen as a source of light, comfort, and even religious ritual. They were used in religious ceremonies, lit during parties and dances and served as night time light for reading or conversation.
One of the most popular techniques for making candles during this period included dipping materials into melted animal fat called tallow which is the rendered fat of an animal – usually beef or lamb tallow. This technique was much easier than molding each candle individually.
Colonists removed the blemishes from the tallow to make it look more pleasing then left it to harden until it formed a solid mass which could easily be used to make candles in many shapes, sizes and colors. Additionally, Tallow produced a generally cheap, low grade of tallow (known as dip waxes) that could be used over multiple dips to form small household type candles and tapers which are still widely enjoyed today.
This method was convenient yet also quite unsanitary due to the use of low quality variations of animal fat;it was nevertheless popular because of its simplicity. For those who wanted upgraded quality they would have had no choice but to go with expensive imported beeswax, which held an oily composition allowing users to make all types of shaped candle with ease.
Bee’s wicks were also more heat-resistant meaning burning times were enhanced significantly compared to the other tallow waxes being utilized. Of course beeswax became heavily regulated following large surpluses in England thus finding cheaper alternatives such as bayberry wax became popular across America during these periods also.
Furthermore even if you didn’t wish to produce your own candle there where plenty of craftsman who catered for those needs through some many profiting off candle selling services whereas others set up factories or even small shops that specialised strictly in candle production.
Ultimately this common manufacturing process transformed even further throughout modern colonial days putting us where we are today with much better access points and improved technologies meaning almost anyone can “dip into candle making” with ease.
Ingredients
During colonial times, candles were made primarily from beef fat, tallow. People on the frontier often used bear fat as well, but beef tallow was much more readily available and therefore used more commonly.
This material was “rendered” (heated) and poured into a mold or tin to set. This process produced candles that burned somewhat smokily and gave off an unpleasant odor, but the wax only had to be sourced once in order to make candles for weeks at a time.
Candles of this type were preferred as not only were they cheaper to make (as you could get the necessary human and animal byproducts for free), but they also burned slower than other wax types and lasted longer than most alternatives. The color of tallow-candles also varied somewhat depending on what animal provided the fat; with cows producing white candles while pork or lamb made yellow ones.
Innovations soon lead to the introduction of different materials during colonial times in America which helped shape the candle making industry today. For example, bayberry wax became popular around 1780 as it burned slowly and odorlessly; it also had vibrant blue-green coloring which helped make it attractive too. Bayberry wax was typically processed from Myrica cerifera trees native to parts of North America.
Furthermore, a few decades later in 1817 beeswax started being used alongside other ingredients like spermaceti – derived from whale blubber – as consumers began willingly paying higher prices for high quality scented candles produced in stylish molds that lasted longer than their cheaper counterparts.
In addition to all these options, there are now countless varieties of store-bought Candles manufactured from synthetic compounds such as paraffin that may have provided aromatherapy benefits too amongst other features which are still widely used today.
Production
The earliest known record of candles being made in the United States was during Colonial America, although it is thought that beeswax candles were also likely produced prior to this. During colonial times, production was mostly done by hand-dipping tallow into other containers to harden the candle. This was a slow and laborious process that was often done in the home.
It resulted in an uneven product which had a variety of different burns and issues such as sooting and tunneling when lit. Over time, improved candle production techniques were developed to increase speed and efficiency across all industries that used them.
Improved Methods for Candle Making
- Molding – A more efficient way of making candles came about through the use of molds where beeswax or tallow could be poured into shapes as opposed to individually dipping one by one.
- More standardized size – Various sizes can now be cast using molds, allowing producers to create consistent sized and quality products.
- Machine Learning – More recently, with advancements in technology, high-end systems have been developed able to produce hundreds of thousands of identical candles per hour at very competitive prices.
- Evolution Of Materials – With new materials now available on the market such as soy wax, producers are able to provide great value without sacrificing quality or longevity.
Markets
In colonial America, markets played a large and important role in the candle making industry. Candle makers used the local market to buy raw materials such as beeswax, tallow and cotton wicks. Customers came to purchase candles of various sizes and colors. Markets were also venues for connecting buyers with peddlers, sellers who traveled from town to town hocking their wares.
Colonial markets varied greatly depending on the region of colonial America in which they appeared, however certain common trends can be observed. In both New England and the Mid-Atlantic regions of colonial America rush lights were most popular due to their low cost compared to whale tallow candles or pure wax tapers – two other types of candles that could be found in Colonial markets.
Rush light holders (an earthenware type pot) served primarily rural households because they were easier to acquire than a brass candle sconce, the type more preferred by city homes who had more purchasing power.
The South was the only region in which tallow was not replacing beeswax as soon as it became available; this is likely attributed to price differences since tallow was cheaper than beeswax but required more upkeep due to its short burning time whereas beeswax gave off a longer lasting flame.
Another trend found throughout colonial America related to dipping companies and their movements from one location to another as new imports flooded into ports like Boston and Philadelphia forcing them to search for new places do business further inland where demand was still high for products made from whale fat.
Variations
Candles in Colonial America were made from tallow, paImit, and beeswax. Though the most common choice was tallow, as it was cheap and usually obtained from either animal fat or vegetable oils. Moreover, beeswax was also expensive because its sources were limited and difficult to find.
However, colonial Americans experimented with different materials to make variations of candles. Here is a list of various types of candles and specialized crafts that were used in colonial America:
- Beeswax Candles – These longer-lasting candles had an alternate source of wax produced by specific species of honeybees.
- Spermaceti Candles – In terms of quality, these candles were better than tallow or beeswax because they did not smoke and there was no need for frequent trimming.
- Molded Candles – These were made with molds created from a variety of materials like pottery, porcelain, wood or metal.
- Dipped Candles – These are probably the oldest form of candle making where wicks were dipped into melted wax multiple times until the thickness desired was achieved.
- Gel Candlecraft – Here gel was used as the main material rather than wax. Gel candles could be given intricately designed shapes and additionally featured interesting things like fake water, bubbles etc.
Colonial Americans also adapted their traditions to include specialized crafts like paper candlemaking which relied on kite paper for producing an interesting lighting effect; or batik craftsman where special mixture of hot acidified water and glycerin painted on fabric helped in soaking up more fuel giving out a greater luminosity.
Another unique craft for creating candles included salt-floating which employed use salt water instead of air as a cushioning agent for the molten wax droplets below helping them float gallantly just above the surface; this then allowed production of both thicker supported wicks as well as well knotted intricate design patterns on top.
Legacies
Candle making in colonial America was a popular home craft and an important source of lighting. Candles were used by the colonists for everything from religious ceremonies and daily tasks such as cooking and sewing to marking special occasions. Not only did candles play a vital role in everyday life, they also left lasting legacies on social and historical trends that can still be seen today. The following are some examples of this recurring influence:
- Candle Making as a Women’s Trade: In colonial times, women who made candles had a unique trade to offer and could even make money while doing it. Women received money for selling their candles and found ways to support themselves financially while maintaining their mostly stay-at-home lifestyle. This trend has continued into modern times, with many female entrepreneurs finding success through candle making.
- The Significance of Special Occasions: It was common practice in early America to mark special occasions with candlelight celebrations. This tradition is believed to have originated with the early colonists, who used candles to light religious processions and seasonal festivals such as Christmas or Easter. Today, people continue to use candles for special events such as weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, or holidays.
- Design Trends Inspired by Colonial Times: Candle shapes, waxes, colors, scents, and packaging styles often pay homage to old-fashioned candle making techniques used during the colonial era. Many of these designs carry on traditional elements but are now crafted according recyclable materials or employed natural ingredients like beeswax.
- The Legacy of Natural Creativity: Candle making requires skill and creativity; something which had been encouraged in colonial America where artistic expression was prized above all else. This creative spirit lives on today as artisans everywhere find new ways of working with candle wax while keeping their projects eco-friendly.
Conclusion
The early days of candle making in colonial America was a pivotal period in history that allowed for the industry to flourish due to an increased demand for candles. The introduction and implementation of tallow processing, mould production, and dipping proved key in aiding the colonialists to creating a continuous supply of candles.
Sadly, this period would also bring about the introduction of child labor laws due to the lack of suitable labor and oppressive conditions posed on children within these candle making environments.
Today, thanks to modern from advances, candle manufacturing has become far more streamlined and environmentally friendly as new eco-friendly processes have been introduced, such as melt-and-pour waxes made from soybeans or beeswax which are both renewable resources with gentler environmental impacts than paraffin waxes.
This form-fitting method is far less labor intensive than traditional methods which therefore minimizes children involvement within these industries as it often takes multiple steps prior to reaching completion; something which adolescents or those younger are not yet able to take part in effectively.
With regards to reflection on colonials’ candle making practices – they played a significant role in providing affordable lighting for each home throughout the colonies whilst simultaneously providing employment opportunities even if it did come at a cost for some young workers.
It should be noted that although child labor laws existed during this day and age – there was still frequent exploitation of minors by employers who had no qualms when it came down to disregarding said regulations which then worked towards perpetuating the disadvantageous “wage slavery” cycle amongst many communities.
As for future candle making projects – there will always be progress being made within this field as both industrialists and traditionalists alike are ever searching for ways through which they could improve upon current technologies with hopes of pushing the envelope forward so that more efficient products could be created from renewable sources itself with minimized impact against our environment’s finite resources.
Welcome to my candle making blog! In this blog, I will be sharing my tips and tricks for making candles. I will also be sharing some of my favorite recipes.
