Gaslicht

Gaslicht is the method of illumination produced by burning gas, typically coal gas, methane from natural gas, or town gas, in lamps and burners. It became the standard urban and domestic lighting method in many countries during the 19th and early 20th centuries, before electric lighting supplanted it.

Gas lighting relied on a municipal gas supply. Gas produced at works from coal (and later other sources) was piped into streets and homes. Lamps used adjustable burners, and in the late 19th century gas mantles—thin ceramic or fabric structures that produced bright light when heated—greatly increased brightness and efficiency. The color temperature ranged from warm amber to whiter light with improvements in gas quality and lamp design. Maintenance included trimming flames, cleaning chimneys, and checking for leaks, because undetected gas leaks could cause fires or explosions.

Historically, gas lighting spread with urban gas networks in the 19th century and persisted into the mid-20th century in many places. The development of electric lighting, along with safer utility networks and better efficiency, led to its gradual decline. Today, gas lighting remains in use in some historic districts, for decorative purposes, or in areas without reliable electricity.

In Dutch usage, gaslicht refers to the lighting technology itself, while the English term gaslighting denotes a form of psychological manipulation where a person is manipulated into doubting their own perceptions or memory.