Candle mould

This double mould for candles dates from the 17th or 18th century. Made of tin, it comes from Banffshire.

The mould is made from two slightly conical cylinders braised along the seam. The candle wicks, made of textile or vegetable fibre twisted into springs, would first have been dropped into the mould through the hole in the top. The wicks would then have been held in place while the wax was poured in. When the wax dried it shrank slightly, allowing the candles to be easily removed from the mould.

This form of candle production was first developed in mainland Europe in the 15th century.

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