The candle was developed well before the birth of Christ and was used by the Egyptians. Candles were made of either tallow or beeswax. By the 16th century, brass candlesticks were being used extensively in the homes of the wealthy in Europe. They replaced the hollowed-out wood and the pewter candlesticks. Unfortunately, brass candlesticks were too expensive for the peasant's home. They continued to use wood and pewter. The early brass candlesticks were heavy and generally fairly squat, with a low and heavy center of gravity. With Georgian times, brass candlesticks became more delicate, taller and more refined. Some of the prettiest candlesticks ever made were produced during the reigns of King George I through King George IV. With the advent of the Victorian period in 1837, we find more knops down the shaft, heavier and thicker shapes, and brass candlesticks that are heavier. For the most part, modern candlesticks are tiny and poorly made.