19th century gas wall light, or sconce. Coal gas lighting made an enormous difference to homes, which had previously relied on oil lamps and candles. The gas mantle was not invented until the end of the 19th century. The mantle is a fragile net of silk or rayon impregnated with metallic salts. Supplied flat, on first use the gas flame inflates and hardens it. The effect of the mantle is to produce a bright white glow. To protect it from draughts and knocks it is surrounded by a clear or engraved glass light shade. This type of lamp, supported only by the wall, is called a sconce. This lamp can be seen in the Black Country Museum, an open air museum, in Dudley, UK.