Oil Lamp

An oil lamp is a type of lamp that burns with the help of a fuel like oil and produces light. Around the 19th century, oil lamps were not only used as a light source but were also used for funerary and votive purposes. They were also used in temples and houses. Even today, oil lamps are used in restaurants and spas merely to make the place look relaxing and exotic. A lamp has an opening for pouring in the fuel. It may or may not have a handle.

Oil lamps are used more for decorative purposes today and have become a collectible item worldwide. Oil lamps made of ceramic, bronze, etc. compliment almost any home décor. They can be displayed on a dining table and create a soft illumination when lighted. Oil lamps are also used in many places of meditation and prayer.

Sometimes lamps are placed on lamp holders are fastened to the wall. Other types of lamp holders include the ones hung suspended from brackets, placed in candelabra and in niches in the wall, among others. The wick of the oil lamp may be made from materials like linen, tow, flax, papyrus or ordinary rush. The fuel of the lamp may be olive oil, nuts, castor oil, crude fish oil or even oil extracted from plants.