Consider entering your grandparents’ home, where every room had a story to tell and every corner possessed a relic. Of these, the oil lamp shelves placed on the walls to this day will make you feel the warmth that you used to experience while reading under them. These shelves, which were an important part of the early twentieth-century houses, were not just practical – they were a symbol of a time when the light of an oil lamp would unite family members in the evening.
Usually wooden or metallic, oil lamp shelves were commonly located in various parts of the house to ensure the light’s effectiveness. These shelves were frequently located on walls in the living room, bedrooms, and hallways. They were not randomly placed; they were strategically positioned to ensure that there was enough light for activities done in the evening such as reading, sewing or even family meetings.
The form of these shelves or niches was quite diverse, ranging from flat ledges to more complex constructions complete with guardrails to avoid lamp tip overs. In wealthier homes, these shelves may have been elaborately decorated or even incorporated into the design of the room, complete with carved-out niches and fancy trim that matched the rest of the house.
This was because oil lamps presented a fire risk due to the exposed flame. Shelves for oil lamps were therefore intended to keep the lamps stowed away from the everyday activities in the house while at the same time letting in the light. These were usually located in positions that were not easily accessible to children and not close to curtains or any other combustible material. This tactical positioning ensured that risks of fire breakouts were reduced to the barest minimum while issuing adequate light.
The existence of oil lamp shelves in old houses gives us an insight into the lifestyles and the technological advancements that were available at the time. Lighting was an important part of people’s lives before the use of gas and electric lights and this meant that the management of lighting was an important part of the daily routine and architecture. These shelves were an important part of the interior design and showed how people of that time managed to optimize the use of living spaces.
Today, oil lamp shelves in historic homes are kept for both their functionality and their historical and cultural value. In the modern homes where such shelves have been installed, they are used for storing candles, plant among other items to enhance the beauty of the house. This is because preservation measures always aim at preserving the original construction features and the material used in the construction in this case the design of the period.
Therefore, the shelves for oil lamps in old houses are not only practical furniture pieces, but they are also a symbol of the creativity of the previous generations and a link to the tangible world of the past. Such details give us ideas about the changes that were made by our ancestors and make us reflect on how these architectural landmarks should be preserved.
20 Pics That Perfectly Explain What Having a Pet Is All About
When you have a kitty or a doggo, you’re almost sure there’s something special waiting for you at home. A pup that’s terrified when he sees you in a bath for the first time, a cat that won’t stop walking on its hind legs, and a dog that’s just crazy about… fresh carrots. They all have their own quirks, and we love them even more when we discover yet another one.
Here at Bright Side, we laughed until we cried while looking at these funny photos, and now we want you to get your daily dose of laughter too.
1. “This woman was walking around NYC with this label on her shoe.”
2. “Karen, I’m concerned, are you aware water CAN KILL YOU!?”
3. “Trained my cat to stand up. Now she won’t stop.”
4. “My name’s Mookie. I hide in mom’s purse when I’m nervous.”
5. “My dog has loose lips that get stuck on his gums after he yawns.”
6. The best way to spend time in a traffic jam
7. “So… I recently discovered my dog likes carrots.”
8. “I cannot take her seriously when she looks like this.”
9. “Me with our dog and my wife with our cat”
10. “Somebody said black cats are hard to photograph for social media. Well, meet Thor.”
11. “She thinks it’s her job to pull rocks out of the lake. The big one weighs 14 lb.”
12. When you let your white dog out after you mow the lawn:
13. “The way my cat decided to sit down”
14. “The face he makes when he knows he’s in trouble… every time!”
15. “When my cat gets spooked by a sound in the next room:”
16. “I put my inside cat outside and walked out to this 5 minutes later.”
17. Oh well… Looks like he’s comfortable…
18. “Delighted to have some uninterrupted downtime with a good book…”
19. “My cat escaped. Found her the next day outside my son’s bedroom window.”
20. “Finally got a picture of my cat looking at the camera.”
When was the last time your pet made you laugh out loud with their quirks? Do you have a funny picture of them acting out? Share your stories and pics in the comments below!
Preview photo credit KatraHigher / Twitter
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