216 BULLETIN 139, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



for shielding the candle, called "hurricane globes, " "guarda brieza, " 

 were used in the great mansions. Sometimes a flaring glass shade 

 was apphed to candlesticks furnishing the best rooms of houses. 



handle lanterns,— When the candle was required to be used in the 

 open air, or carried about outside, or transported on vehicles and 

 boats, a protection either transparent or perforated was required. 

 The lantern responds to this need. The earliest lanterns were candle 

 lanterns, and in the course of the devolopment of iUumination every 

 species of lighting apparatus has been installed in this device. In 

 the Orient the lantern appears to have been anciently used. In 

 England King Alfred is given credit for inventing the lantern to 

 insure the steady burning of his time candles. In Egypt there was 

 discovered a drum-shaped perforated hanging lamp of bronze, ques- 

 tionably of the ninth century."* The oiled paper or transparent paper 

 lantern has a wide distribution from the Near East to the extreme 

 East. It is probabl}^ an old form in this region. The perforated 

 lantern as to its grade of invention would precede other forms, but 

 in metal at least is late (pi. 36, figs. 1,2). 



As a comprehensive remark, the lantern and candle are linked as to 

 age and both are developed in a relatively high stage of civihzation. 

 The suggestion of shielding the light, leading from the cupped hand 

 to elaborate lanterns, is so apparent that extemporaneous devices 

 are numerous, and these with the elaborate forms may have arisen 

 independently in many places and at indefinite times. Perforations, 

 paper, cloth, skin, horn, mica, and glass were employed to transmit 

 light in the lantern (pi. 36, fig. 3). 



Devices for regulating the candle. — Aside from lighters of splints 

 and so forth, ignited at the fire, there are other devices connected 

 with the history of the match (see Fire making). For a long period 

 candles of the uninventive period, with wicks not properly designed, 

 required snuffing, and for this purpose snuffers were invented for the 

 use of those who did not wish to employ the earlier method with the 

 fingers. The earliest snuffers were little rods or pincers with sharp 

 points. The early liinged snuffers were rudely made of iron, the 

 end of the box terminating in the sharp point for spreading and 

 otherwise tending the wick which has been perpetuated in all snuffers. 

 The handles were plain rods. The snuffer was improved by putting 

 loops, as in scissors, on the ends of the handles, by putting in a 

 spring which withdrew the damper from the fungus box, and 

 by the addition of thin legs to stand upon the tray. A later device 

 exhibits a spring diaphragm which shuts the fungus, charred wick, 

 into a tight compartment. 



In the progress of refinement snuffers became art works of the 

 metal workers, and trays equally artistic were provided on which the 



«< Robert de Rustafjaell. The Light of Egypt, London, 1909, pi. 36, p 79. 



