The first published maps of the 16th century have within their geographic depictions great monsters writhing in the ocean, a pictorial guide to the dangers of the ocean’s as they began to be discovered.

In 1539 Swedish Catholic Priest Olaus Magnus published his ‘Carta marina’, a 5 feet by 4 feet wall map, the most accurate map of Scandinavia yet produced. In the wild expanses of the North Sea can be seen a host of levitation marine creatures, especially a giant sea serpent detailed in red, and described as 300 feet long encircling a ship. It is this creature that this candle is based upon.

The existence of the creature continued in folklore throughout the 16th into the 17th centuries, and reappears in other maps throughout the period.

Original designs & historical recreations. Unscented and hand poured pillar candles.