Whale oil pewter lamp, candlestick form, c.1840

Whale oil lamp made of pewter. The lamp has a single wick and is in candlestick form. The lamp was made in c.1840.

In the 19th century, one of the primary uses for whale oil was to provide oil for lamps. Whale oil was particularly prized in lamps because it burned brighter and cleaner than other fat-based fuels. Whale oil is processed from the blubber of whales. The blubber was cut off the whales and then boiled to extract the oil.