page_title: Beeswax
section_title: Historical uses
hierarchical_section_title: Beeswax / Historical uses
caption_attribution_description: English: Three bees wax candles found at the Alamannic gravyard of Oberflacht, Seitingen-Oberflacht, Kreis Tuttlingen, Germany. Dating to 6th or beginning 7th century A.D. They are the oldest survived bees wax candles north of the Alps. Dimensions from left to right: Deutsch: Drei Bienenwachskerzen. Gefunden in der zweiten Hälfte des 19. Jahrhunderts im alamannischen Gräberfeld von Oberflacht, Gemeinde Seitingen-Oberflacht, Kreis Tuttlingen, Deutschland. Die Kerzen datieren in das 6. oder beginnende 7. Jahrhundert und sind die ältesten erhaltenen Bienenwachskerzen nördlich der Alpen. Das Wachs der Kerzen weist hohe Beimengungen an Baumharzen auf. Maße von Links nach Rechts: L: Height: 206 mm (8.11 in); Diameter: 20 mm (0.78 in) dimensions QS:P2048,206U174789;P2386,20U174789 M: Height: 279 mm (10.98 in); Diameter: 20 mm (0.78 in) dimensions QS:P2048,279U174789;P2386,20U174789 R: Height: 220 mm (8.66 in); Diameter: 20 mm (0.78 in) dimensions QS:P2048,220U174789;P2386,20U174789
context_page_description: Beeswax is a natural wax produced by honey bees of the genus Apis. The wax is formed into scales by eight wax-producing glands in the abdominal segments of worker bees, which discard it in or at the hive. The hive workers collect and use it to form cells for honey storage and larval and pupal protection within the beehive. Chemically, beeswax consists mainly of esters of fatty acids and various long-chain alcohols.
  Beeswax has been used since prehistory as the first plastic, as a lubricant and waterproofing agent, in lost wax casting of metals and glass, as a polish for wood and leather and for making candles, as an ingredient in cosmetics and as an artistic medium in encaustic painting.
  Beeswax is edible, having similar negligible toxicity to plant waxes, and is approved for food use in most countries and in the European Union under the E number E901.
context_section_description: Beeswax was among the first plastics to be used, alongside other natural polymers such as gutta-percha, horn, tortoiseshell, and shellac. For thousands of years, beeswax has had a wide variety of applications; it has been found in the tombs of Egypt, in wrecked Viking ships, and in Roman ruins. Beeswax never goes bad and can be heated and reused. Historically, it has been used:
  As candles - the oldest intact beeswax candles north of the Alps were found in the Alamannic graveyard of Oberflacht, Germany, dating to 6th/7th century AD
  In the manufacture of cosmetics
  As a modelling material in the lost-wax casting process, or cire perdue
  For wax tablets used for a variety of writing purposes
  In encaustic paintings such as the Fayum mummy portraits
  In bow making
  To strengthen and preserve sewing thread, cordage, shoe laces, etc.
  As a component of sealing wax
  To strengthen and to forestall splitting and cracking of wind instrument reeds
  To form the mouthpieces of a didgeridoo, and the frets on the Philippine kutiyapi – a type of boat lute
  As a sealant or lubricant for bullets in cap and ball firearms
  To stabilize the military explosive Torpex – before being replaced by a petroleum-based product
  In producing Javanese batik
  As an ancient form of dental tooth filling
  As the joint filler in the slate bed of pool and billiard tables.
caption: Beeswax candles, Alamannic graveyard (Oberflacht, Germany), 6th/7th century AD
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