Editing Oil lamp (section)

{{Short description|Lamp used for lighting by burning oil}}
{{Redirect|Oil Lamps|the film|Oil Lamps (film){{!}}''Oil Lamps'' (film)}}
[[File:Group of ancient hellenistic an roan oil lamps.jpg|thumb|Group of ancient lamps ([[Hellenistic]] and Roman)]]
[[File:DiwaliOilLampCrop.JPG|thumb|Simple contemporary Indian clay oil lamp during [[Diwali]]]]
[[File:Oil Lamp Christian Symbol.jpg|thumb|Antique bronze oil lamp with the "[[Chi Rho]]", a Christian symbol (replica)]]
[[File:Wahaya sukunda.jpg|thumb|Sukunda oil lamp of [[Kathmandu Valley]], Nepal]]
[[File:Korea-Horongbul-01.jpg|thumb|Oil lamp of [[Korea]]]]
[[File:Glas Oil Lamp.jpg|thumb|upright|Modern oil lamp of [[Germany]] with flat wick]]
An '''oil lamp''' is a lamp used to produce light continuously for a period of time using an oil-based fuel source. The use of oil lamps began thousands of years ago and continues to this day, although their use is less common in modern times. They work in the same way as a [[candle]] but with fuel that is liquid at room temperature, so that a container for the oil is required. A textile wick drops down into the oil, and is lit at the end, burning the oil as it is drawn up the wick.

Oil lamps are a form of [[lighting]], and were used as an alternative to candles before the use of electric lights. Starting in 1780, the [[Argand lamp]] quickly replaced other oil lamps still in their basic ancient form. These in turn were replaced by the [[kerosene lamp]] in about 1850. In small towns and rural areas the latter continued in use well into the 20th century, until such areas were finally [[Electrification|electrified]] and light bulbs could be used.

Sources of fuel for oil lamps include a wide variety of plants such as nuts ([[walnuts]], [[almonds]] and [[kukui]]) and seeds ([[sesame]], [[Olive oil|olive]], [[Castor oil|castor]], or [[Flax oil|flax]]). Also widely used were animal fats (butter, [[ghee]], fish oil, [[Shark liver oil|shark liver]], [[whale blubber]], or [[Seal oil|seal]]). [[Camphine]], made of purified spirits of [[turpentine]], and burning fluid, a mixture of turpentine and alcohol, were sold as lamp fuels starting in the 1830s as the [[whale oil]] industry declined. Burning fluid became more expensive during the American Civil War when a [[Revenue Act of 1862|federal tax]] on alcohol was [[Whiskey Rebellion|reenacted]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Veach |first1=Michael R. |title=Whiskey Taxation, Part Two: The American Civil War And Beyond |url=https://bourbonveach.com/2018/04/09/whiskey-taxation-part-two-the-american-civil-war-and-beyond/ |access-date=23 March 2024 |website=Bourbon History |date=9 April 2018 |publisher=Bourbon Veach LLC}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Edwards |first=Phil |date=August 7, 2015 |title=The horrific spike in whiskey prices during the Civil War, in one chart |url=https://www.vox.com/2015/8/7/9111123/whiskey-civil-war-chart |access-date=15 March 2024 |work=Vox Media}}</ref> Sales of both camphene and burning fluid decreased in the late 1800s as other sources of lighting, such as [[kerosene]] made from petroleum, [[gas lighting]] and [[electric lighting]], began to predominate.

Most modern lamps (such as [[Lantern#Modern lanterns|fueled lanterns]]) have been replaced by [[Propane|gas-based]] or [[Naphtha#Other applications|petroleum-based]] fuels to operate when emergency non-electric light is required. Oil lamps are currently used primarily for their ambience.