Historical information

This candle mould was used in the past to make six candles. Molten wax or tallow, together with a central thread or cotton, were poured into the columns and when set were removed from the moulds. Until the advent of electricity in the 1920s in Warrnambool, candles, lanterns and lamps were an important source of lighting in homes. Few homes had gas lighting. Many householders made their own candles from waste fat etc.

Significance

This mould is retained as an example of the way householders in the past made their own candles to assist lighting in the home.

Physical description

This is a mould with a rectangular base and six cylindrical hollow columns with pointed ends affixed to the mould base. The columns are topped by a rectangular metal tray with the openings of the columns in the base of the tray. There is a metal clip attached to one end of the tray. The mould is very rusty