The oil lamps seen here are made from used oil and pilchard tins. Old tins were turned into cheap, attractive household items in small workshops. Many people cannot afford new, factory-made objects so instead they can buy these reused, handcrafted ones.

These two were made in Bolivia but similar ones can be found in many other countries in South America, Asia and Africa. They are often sold in markets and used outside to light up homes, market stalls and other places where people work or talk during the evening in rural villages where there is no electricity. The oil lamps are filled with paraffin (also known as kerosene) and a cotton wick is threaded through the top tube and then lit. They are also exported as they have now become popular with tourists.

To see an example of the funnels used to refill lamps like this click on Collection Connections below.