Welsh rush light holder Sold
An 18th century Welsh wrought iron rushlight holder.
North Wales circa 1790
Lacking the candle socket, but a lovely original example with provenance & first time on the market.
10” high
£650 Sold
A simple form of lighting in many homes. Rushes were collected in late summer when the skin was peeled, leaving a small strip to give support. The rush was then drawn through melted fat in a “grisset” pan. When dry they could be held in the rushlight holder and lit. The following is taken from “Old English Household Life” by Gertrude Jekyll and Sydney R Jones, 1939 – The ancient system of lighting in English homes, is often feeble, was not entirely inadequate, even though derived from slender sources. In common with other simple home-made expedients it suffered the slings of destructive criticism, and was the butt for caustic wit: “As rushlights in a spacious room, Just burn enough to form a gloom” (1764)