In the northern hemisphere* December marks not only the darkest period of the year but also that moment when light begins to return: following the Winter Solstice our days start to get a little longer, and a little brighter.

And in December 2020 not just astronomically, but metaphorically.

Midwinter 2020 symbolising a moment when a particularly dark year, a particularly dark period, starts to get a little brighter, a moment when a little more light will start to slowly seep into our days, weeks, months, lives: and not just because of that, but also; nor just because of that, but also; and, yes, also because of that. But definitely not because of that.

And so by way of celebrating a particularly notable Midwinter, a Radio smow playlist devoted to one of the earliest objects to make artificial light manageable and functional, and thus one of the earliest objects to literally bring a little more light into our lives, to literally aid making our lives a little brighter…….

Radio smow: A Candlesticks Playlist

A smal table in front of Cafe Központ, Budapest by Architecture Uncomfortable Workshop

As we’ve noted in the past, Hungarian architects and designers made a valuable contribution to the development of post war

Candle Holder by AU Workshop, as seen at Pure Hungarian, Vienna Design Week 2014

Time was when the candlestick maker was an important profession. No candlestick. No light. Or at least no secure light.