Obscure Candle Facts - Candles were parting of your energy bill…
/\ How candles reflected economic and social standing, as they were the equivalent of the modern artificial lighting. They’re part of your energy bill as it were.
Excellent section on Lighting.
Candles were produced in 4, 6, and 8 hour lengths. So a hostess would purchase candles designed to last for the entire event rather than ones which would need to be replaced during the evening. An event like the Netherfield ball could require up to 300 candles, costing upwards of 15 pounds—a year’s wages for a maid
So if you were at an event, you could tell how long the host intended you to stay based on the length of candle.
Money = more access to artificial light in darkness.
Also candles used to be a lot more temperamental (chemical advances in Victorian period haven’t arrived yet), so not only did rich people have access to more candles, they also paid servants to tend to said candles so they didn’t gutter.
Really poor > going to bed early, you can’t afford to lit candles and you can’t see anymore as its too dark (a lot less light pollution in those days).
Really rich > you’re using spermaceti candles in your private study as you stay up late, with ultimate status symbol being evening events e.g. holding a ball where you use up so many candles, also you have that army of servants to tend to them. The aristocracy could stay up later into the night because they could afford the artificial light in which to see by.
