Replica Thirteenth-Century Devotional Candleholder

Replica Thirteenth-Century Devotional Candleholder

artefact, blessing, candle, candles, candleholder, candle-holder, Christ, Christian, Christianity, devotion, devotional, light, ‘Mainly Medieval’, material culture, New South Wales, NSW, re-enactment, reenactment, replica, symbolism

An advertisement for a replica thirteenth-century devotional candleholder distributed by ‘Mainly Medieval’, an online re-enactor supplies company based in New South Wales. In purified Christianised logic, the candle is a symbol of ‘devotion,’ and (prayerful) ‘study’ (See Gertrude Jobes, Dictionary of Mythology Folklore and Symbols, New York, The Scarecrow Press, 1962, vol. 1, p.284). The candle also symbolises light and, by extension, Christ. This candleholder is a heavy pewter artefact, designed for maximum stability and utility. It contains a blessing which states, “God bless those present and those that made me”. Candles and candleholders were used in the homes of the wealthy, especially in the libraries of those able to read and write, as well as in monasteries, churches, and universities. It seems unlikely, however, that such an expensive candleholder as this would be found in peasant dwellings, where rushlights and light from the fire would be sufficient to see after dark.

Mainly Medieval

2011

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