London UK advertising for Clarke’s Cricklite Fairy Lights late 1800s

Late 1800s attractive colour advertising for Samuel Clarke's "Fairy Lights" which were designed to burn small slow-burning candles through the night.

Clarke was based in Cricklewood London N.W.

                         CLARKE'S

Toning areas on inner pages.

4 pages

21,50 x 14 cm

Glass Fairy Lights or Fairy Lamps were designed to burn small slow-burning candles through the night. They were first introduced in the early nineteenth century, and had a glass base plate or dish with an inverted cup with a hole in the top which went over the candle. The candles were special ones, some of which could burn for eleven hours.

The name "Fairy Light" is said to come from a trade mark used by Samuel Clarke, showing a fairy with a light on the end of a wand. Clarke was one of the most prolific producers of coloured and fancy night lights. He was a candle-maker who patented this design for a glass night light in the UK, the USA, and Europe. Various glass houses made the lamps under licence from Clarke. There were other designers of Fairy Lamps, but none so well known.

Fairy Lights continued in use until the early 20th century, but they died away as electricity and gas became widely used for lighting.

www.glassencyclopedia.com/glassfairylights.html