Candles were expensive to buy in Tudor times so most people used ‘Rushlights'
The central part of a ‘Bullrush',
(usually found growing near rivers),
was dipped in animal fat to make a
thin looking candle
These could then be clamped into the pincer part of this artefact and one or both ends could be lit
Being made of animal fat it had a few drawbacks -
They smelled very bad when burned and mice living in tour house would eat them if you weren't careful