Swazi Candles - Bogolan Pot Candle

Bogolan or 'Mud cloth'  - is one of Africa's most unusual and unique textiles.

Narrow strips of handwoven cotton are stitched together into a whole cloth, then painted with patterns and symbols using a variety of natural dyes, including river mud that has been aged up to one year. As these cloths are handwoven, the thickness and weight are variable, but generally they are similar to a light blanket.

This candle is inspired by these designs and each one has been handmade by expert candle-makers in the mountain Kingdom of eSwatini.

The artisans create the candles using the ancient technique of ‘millifiore’, which was a skill perfected in Italy to create the finest glass sculptures and has been translated into use with wax.

The candles are beautiful, useful and ethical and are made using high grade paraffin that is long lasting.

Height: Approx. 7cm

Width: Approx. 9cm

Each candle burns for approximately 30 hours

To get the best out of your candle please read the directions before use.

– Keep wick trimmed to 1/4 inch.

– Remove all packaging before use and place candle in a suitable container capable of containing any wax spillage. Although the candle is generally self contained a heat resistant coaster or similar is advised.

– Burn candle away from draughts and for no more than a couple of hours at a time (this prevents the hard outer wax from melting)

– Extinguish candle with snuffer or back of metal spoon taking care not to damage wick.

– Pour off molten wax if necessary to enhance flame.

About Swazi Candles

Swazi Candles was started in an old cowshed of a former dairy in 1982 by 2 South African art graduates. The little workshop soon gained a reputation for producing unique candles and started attracting visitors.

The vibrancy of the workshop, uniqueness of the product and the skill of the artisans resulted in Swazi Candles becoming one of eSwatini's (formerly Swaziland) premier tourist attractions.

They are also one of the founding members of SWIFT (Swaziland Fair Trade Association).

The Process
The wax is colored by mixing pigments with hot wax which is then poured into flat sheets.
Sheets are marked and cut and carefully layered according to the design.
The resulting slabs are compressed, extruded and re-extruded and then sliced into thin veneers.
These veneers are then taken by the candle makers and skillfully stretched over a core of pure white wax and hand made into the desired shapes.

See more about Swazi Candles here.

Karakorum introduces you to artisans of the world and the beautiful stories behind their products. This ethical home decor brand is a joyous celebration of traditional crafts, small business and fair trade practices. 

Karakorum is named after the former capital of the Moghul Empire, one of the most important cities on the Silk Road, despite its small size. Likewise, the brand is a small-but-mighty route for trade from around the world. 

A scroll through the Karakorum collection is like looking into the shop window of global artisans. Find candles crafted in Eswatini alongside Indian throws, Moroccan lanterns and Guatemalan sugar skull mugs. 

All Karakorum products have a special story and significance. Even more importantly, everything in the range is ethically made and sourced. That means the makers get a fair wage, there’s no exploitation in the supply chain, women are treated equally and the local community benefits from Karakorum’s trade. 

Whether you’re after a memorable, meaningful gift or a piece you can show off in your own home with pride – the Karakorum collection is the place to find it.