Candlestick

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Medieval man took advantage of the light of day as much as possible, but, in the early dark of winter, he had to have recourse to other forms of light, most frequently that of the fireplace. In the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, the smoky torches of resinous wood, which formerly had been used to provide additional light in the rooms of castles, were generally restricted to use at outdoor events. Candles mounted in wall brackets, chandeliers, or candlesticks, and in some cases, oil lamps, were used to light interiors. Common candles made of tallow had wicks that needed constant trimming and burned with an unpleasant smell. The better quality candles, made of beeswax and used with pricket candlesticks, were so expensive that only the wealthy could afford them. Although in the late Middle Ages large pricket candlesticks were more commonly found in the church, were are some representations of them in use of the dinner table or for other domestic purposes.

Medieval Art and The Cloisters

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Museum's collection of medieval and Byzantine art is among the most comprehensive in the world. Displayed in both The Met Fifth Avenue and in the Museum's branch in northern Manhattan, The Met Cloisters, the collection encompasses the art of the Mediterranean and Europe from the fall of Rome in the fourth century to the beginning of the Renaissance in the early sixteenth century. It also includes pre-medieval European works of art created during the Bronze Age and early Iron Age.

Metropolitan Museum of Art