Bowl Chandelier With Six Side LightsOn this Empire-inspired chandelier, anthemion leaves on the suspension supports and laurel leaves extending from a rosette clasp on the gold rim of the large bowl reflect the early 19th century admiration of classical Greek and Roman ornamentation. The large bowl, if not covered, would have had a wick attached to a floating disk on the surface of the oil, in the fashion of a traditional sanctuary lamp. Prior to the use of kerosene or gas, available burning fluids were oils extracted from a variety of plants and animals. Processed whale oil, for example, was popular and efficient until the decline of the whale population made its purchase prohibitive. Lard and fish oils were cheaper, but "odious" and therefore less desirable. They frequently required aromatic pastilles to also be burnt in the oil to perfume the air. In Europe, the most common burning oil was obtained from the crushed seeds of brassica (grape seed) and was known as Colza oil, a reasonably safe fuel, but so heavy it often required an elevated font to gravity feed the wicks. These high oil chambers are often eliminated from most contemporary replicas of traditional oil burning chandeliersSpanish Gold Finish with Cream AlabasterPolished French Gold Finish with White Alabaster6+3 Bulbs - 40W Candelabra