The Evolution of Residential Lighting
In my post today, I would like to share a text about this fascinating history of domestic lighting. A topic that fascinates me both because of the history of candlelight and the origin of electric lighting and how all of this has transformed the world. The text was written by Louis Platman, assistant curator, for the House Museum in the United Kingdom.
I am also attaching the link for those who wish to read the original text in English and see the beautiful images that illustrate the text.
"Lighting our homes"
Written by Louis Platman, Assistant Curator 1/13/2021
"The electric light bulb provided homes with bright, instant light and is now considered one of the most basic necessities.
Ancient sources of light
However, one does not have to go back very far to find a time when domestic lighting was a luxury: those who could not afford it organized their lives according to nature's clock.
From ancient times to the Victorian era, lighting in the home remained largely unchanged. The main source of light was also the main source of heat: the fireplace. The arrival of evening meant that activities such as reading or sewing had to be done around the fire, or you simply gave up and went to bed.
The cheapest form of supplementary lighting was homemade rushlights, which consisted of the pith of the rush plant, dipped in animal fat or lard. Placed horizontally on a stand, they could be lit at both ends to double the brightness at the cost of longevity. This gave rise to the popular expression 'burning the candle at both ends'.
Candles
High-quality candles and oil lamps were often prohibitively expensive. The more affordable tallow candles were preferred over rushlights. But, being solid sticks of animal fat, they burned with a noxious smoke and proved very attractive to hungry pests. These candles also required trimming every 30 minutes or so to prevent the fat from accumulating and the wick from going out. To maximize illumination, candles were placed in front of a mirror, or for those less well-off, a pewter dinner plate, reflecting the dim light back into the room.
More light and more to do
Technological innovations in the 19th century allowed for the production of much cheaper candles, as well as the use of gas to light homes. Domestic life began to seem much brighter, if only in a literal sense. Behavior and sleep patterns changed as the arrival of night no longer meant the end of the day's activities. With more hours to read, literacy improved, while meals and entertainment could take place later in the evening and work could be done at any time of day. This, along with other factors, resulted in changing attitudes towards sleep, with many seeing it more as an inefficient use of time than as a necessary period of rest and recovery.
The arrival of the electric light bulb
The invention of the incandescent light bulb in the 1870s (subject to a bitter dispute between Thomas Edison and Joseph Swan) accelerated this revolution. Homes now had constant, bright light, without the toxic fumes of gas lighting or the constant vigilance required by candles. Still, some people were left behind. In some rural areas, the cheapest and most readily available form of light remained household candles and rushlights, even into the 1900s.
Electricity for all
It wasn’t until 1933, with the start of the National Grid, that a fully lit home became possible throughout society. With cheap electricity and mass-produced light bulbs, home life could truly be 24/7.
Since then, it seems that very little has changed, except for the various appliances and devices that fill our homes and make them even brighter. However, as we become more aware of the environmental impact of our demand for electricity and more concerned about our dependence on technology, it is possible that in the future we will spend a little more time in the dark.