Weaver's bowl
Category
Historic Services / Lighting
Date
1800 - 1900
Materials
Glass
Measurements
254 mm (Height); 200 mm (Diameter)
Order this imageCollection
Townend, Cumbria
NT 478148
Caption
During dark winter nights, a weaver's bowl helped to extend the number of working hours in a day by creating an amplified light source. The bowl would have been filled with water with a candle placed behind it. The flame of the candle would act as a lens to refract the light, illuminating the weaver's working area.
Summary
Light Intensifier in the form of a hand blown glass bowl with a circular base and lip to top (late 18th - early 19th century); used for increasing the intensity of candlelight. The bowl was filled with water and a candle placed behind it. The light was then concentrated onto a small area, enabling spinning, embroidery, etc.