Chandlery

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A chandlery (/ˈtʃændləri/ or /ˈtʃɑːnd-/)[1] was originally the establishment in a wealthy medieval household responsible for wax and candles, as well as the room in which the candles were kept. It could be headed by a chandler. The office was subordinated to the kitchen, and only existed as a separate office in larger households.

Whether a separate office or not, the function was naturally an important one, in a time before electric light, and when production of candles was often done privately. It was closely connected with other offices of the household, such as the ewery and the scullery.[2] While this usage is obsolete today, the term can refer to a candle-trade establishment. The current meaning of "chandler" is a person who sells candles.[3][4]

By the 18th century, most commercial chandlers dealt in candles, oils, soap, and even paint. As these provided ship's stores, chandlery came to refer to a shop selling nautical items for ships and boats, although for a time they were called ship-chandleries to distinguish them. Speakers of American English used the term chandlery for these ship-chandleries,[5] but tended to prefer the term chandler's shop. Both terms remain in use.

The job-function and title of chandler, still exists as applying to someone who works in the chandlery trade or who manages a chandler's shop. The term chandelier, at one time a ceiling fixture that held a number of candles, is still used. However, today chandeliers are usually based on electrical lighting.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ "Dictionary.com | Meanings & Definitions of English Words". Dictionary.com.
  2. ^ Woolgar, C. M. (1999). The Great Household in Late Medieval England. New Haven and London: Yale University Press. pp. 17, 33. ISBN 0-300-07687-8.
  3. ^ "chandlery". Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 19 January 2008.
  4. ^ "chandler". Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 19 January 2008.
  5. ^ Palmer, Richard F. (1987) "100 years of provisioning Great Lakes ships" Inland seas: Quarterly Journal of the Great Lakes Historical Society 43(1): pp. 10–22, pages, 12, 16, 18, 21
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  • The dictionary definition of chandlery at Wiktionary