[Sca-cooks] Viking Dining Light

[Stefan li Rous]

Sharon asked:
> Does anyone know if this was from an edible grain such as barley or  
> flax?
> I'd also be interested in whether the pith was used like a wick in  
> oil or
> fat or whether it was used to soak up oil in a more sponge like way  
> and then
> lit if anyone is familiar with this.

Margaret FitzWilliam replied:
<<< Rushlights are also period for much of Europe--there's a wrought- 
iron
rushlight holder in the Medieval Household book from the Museum of  
London
that looks for all the world like the rushlight holders that were  
used in
colonial times in the US. >>>

Rushes were trimmed and then dipped in tallow.

While not specifically on the Norse rushes or rushlights, there is  
this good, how-to article in the HOME, SWEET HOME section of the  
Florilegium:

Rushlights-art     (8K) 11/29/08    "Working With Rushlights"
                                        by Master Bedwyr Danwyn.

Probably not too useful in modern feasthalls, though.

Stefan
--------
THLord Stefan li Rous    Barony of Bryn Gwlad    Kingdom of Ansteorra
    Mark S. Harris           Austin, Texas           
StefanliRous at austin.rr.com
**** See Stefan's Florilegium files at:  http://www.florilegium.org ****