Creativity-Outburst in Autumn: Tea Lights with mosaic ornament

Mosaik Teelichhalter

As autumn approaches and the days grow shorter we like to decorate the interior of our homes and even offices with candles and tee lights. Yet simple tee light enclosed in a bland glass jar appears cold and lifeless.

In a small outburst of creativity I decided to transform my tee lights into warmer and more colourful objects and what better than to use my many coloured mosaic tiles to beautify the glass jars.

Candles exist for at least 7000 years and originated in the Middle East. However these primal candles had little in common with candles as we know them today. The consisted of straw, hemp or reed which was dipped in animal fat or resin and thus resembled torches more than candles.

The “modern” candle was developed by the Romans during the second century. She carried the advantage of burning with far less fumes and thus greatly reducing the danger of fire.

Teelichhalter aus Mosaik

The Romans manufactured candles from liquid cattle or sheep sebum or bees wax. The wick mostly consisted of papyrus or bulrush and treated with sulphur.

Candle holders were candelabra with spikes just like today. In order to illuminate large rooms a great many of candles had to be set up and looked after.

In the southern provinces of the empire oil lamps were developed running on olive oil. The burned smokeless and the lamps could simple be refilled as the oil drained. Some designs even included a complex refilling mechanism with a reservoir.

However in the northern half of Europe candles remained the preferred illuminant throughout centuries as olive oil was a luxury in those latitudes.
For this jar glass I chose our Micro-Tiles measuring 5x5x3mm and a simple but solvent less UHU glue. Thinly applied to the tiles contact side they will bond quickly with a properly cleaned glass surface.

Not quite half an hour later I was able to drink my second cup of tea in the warm flickering of my newly decorated tee light.

Of course this was just a start. I don’t think I have any undecorated tee light left. And as winter approaches more and more of them conquer tables or window and chimney ledges and I look forward to cosy reading evenings huddled up on my sofa.

Florence

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