Frolic Lighting, www.froliclighting.com, supplies two types of candle lamp. Its liquid-filled candle (pictured) costs £27 for two. The advantage of this is it won't burn down and, when topped up with lamp oil, £4.30 for 250cc, will burn for at least eight hours. Each candle is fitted with a shade carrier, £7.65 in brass and £13.95 in silver, to support the shade. The alternative is real wax candles that burn down, and the carrier and shade slide down with them. When using candles, be certain to use the correct type. Frolic Lighting supplies cream dining candles at £20 for a box of 12, but other companies' straight, not tapered, 19mm candles can be used so long as they contain at least ten per cent stearin, which hardens the wax and stops the candle from bending under the weight of the carrier and shade as it burns and the wax softens. Card shades for both types of candle cost £5.40 each (plus £5 mail order) and come in various patterns and colours; candlesticks are available too.

CELIA RUFEY
APRIL 2008