Beeswax...the Magic

Beeswax (white scales) 

In the insects kingdom, many of them  secrete wax from glands. It is usually to protect themselves against the natural elements, like rain, or dryness. However, honeybees over time have developed special glands in the worker bees. They actually have 4 pairs of wax glands which are located on their abdomen (see picture). Queens and drones do not possess these glands, therefore they cannot produce wax. What I found extraordinary is the fact that each little white scale is unique...just like snowflakes...
To produce the wax, a worker bee has to be about 3 weeks old. This wax is used to build honeycombs. Later in life when the bee becomes a forager, she looses the ability to create wax. Beeswax is a complex substance that Man cannot replicates. The chemical formula of beeswax is: C15 H31 CO2 C30 H61!

"Beeswax is a very stable material. Researchers and archaeologists have discovered beeswax thousands of years old (in pyramids for example) and pointed out very little deterioration, being nearly similar to beeswax that is produced today. Beeswax is insoluble in water, in fact it's been brought up from ship wrecks after years under salt water and is still in good condition."


The production of beeswax in the United States is about 1 to 2 pounds (1 to 1.5 kg) of beeswax per 100 pounds(45kg) of honey produced!

Pouring warm wax in molds

Beeswax for candles was used exclusively during church's ceremonies and were very expansive, because of its rarity. "Since the 4th. century AC, it was required by the Roman Catholic Church that only beeswax candles should be used in church." (Crane) It was therefore  a major improvement in Europe when beeswax candles were used at last by Royalty during the XIV century, and later by the end of the XV century by some nobles, and grand merchants. No wonder those higher classes liked the beeswax better... it burned pure, clean with a gentle sweet aroma without any smoky flames, foul and acrid odor!






During the Middle Ages, most early western cultures in common households used candles rendered from animal's fat. They were called tallow.  
There were 4 types of candles available for purchase at that time:
The tallow, the cheapest was made using one type of animal; cow suet.
The tallow mix fat, cheap, 2/3 cow suet and 1/3 lamb suet or cattle and sheep.
The tallow mix with beeswax, mid-range expansive.
The candle made with beeswax, the most expansive.

Fat simmering!

Candle-making was a great booming business during the Middle ages. The candle makers ( making tallows ) went from house to house, making candles from the kitchen fats saved for that precise purpose. They also made their own, and sold them from small candle shops. Wicks were usually made 

Making candles

of linen threads 3-5 twisted together.  

Candle shop

The chandlers (making beeswax candles) went from church to church, manor to manor , and to castles...  beeswax at that time was so precious that the clergy, nobles and Royals had hives of their own, where they lived. They feared "some" would steal their wax. 


By the end of the XIII century, this candle making boom in England and France became so important that the candle makers and chandlers decided to form a guild. Prices, weights and techniques were set and heavily regulated. For instance, under Louis XIV in France, one candle made of beeswax was 2.5 livers, which was at the time the salary of specialized journeyman! So only the very wealthy could afford such a luxury. 

Tallow's and beeswax candles were used until the XVIII century in Europe and America, until the whaling industry developed  the "spermaci wax". This was a wax obtained by crystallizing sperm whale oil. 

Whaling

I love my bees and all they give us, but I am thankful for Humphrey Davy, an English scientist who invented the first electric light bulb in 1800. He first invented an electric battery, which wires were  connected to a piece of carbon; the carbon glowed...producing light!
I love my bees and all they give us, but I am thankful for Humphrey Davy, an English scientist who invented the first electric light bulb in 1800. He first invented an electric battery, which wires were  connected to a piece of carbon; the carbon glowed...producing light!I love my bees and all they give us, but I am thankful for Humphrey Davy, an English scientist who invented the first electric light bulb in 1800. He first invented an electric battery, which wires were  connected to a piece of carbon; the carbon glowed...producing light!

Humphrey Davy

First light bulbs!

Citation/Bibliography:
Crane, E. The World History of Beekeeping and Honey Hunting, 1999
Sim, A. The Tudor Housewife, 1996