Wax and waxen artefacts. A cultural-historical approach

Thanks to its exquisite qualities, wax has played an important role in private as well as in collective life. Bees' wax used to illuminate mansions, churches and chapels and was an essential element in liturgy. In the Low Countries the consumption of pure wax - in spite its exorbitant price - kept growing, which resulted in an international wax trade. The expenditure of wax in rituals, processions and pageants was paid for by donations (in vivo and post mortem), taxes and fines. Some believe that the way a candle burns, drips and goes out has a symbolic meaning (ceromancy). Waxen artefacts, especially (consecrated) candles, are said to protect people. Small waxen dummies, 'divorce candles', etc are used to enchant, hurt and kill. But love can also be stimulated by candle magic: lovers' candles, genital candles, etc. Funeral effigies, anatomic models and curios ended up in diverting people on the market-place and in wax museums. There are lots of occasions when people still need a lighted candle: at home, in places of pilgrimage as well as in the public domain.