Electric switch in alabaster and gilded brass

Length 6 cm.

Electricity becomes widespread in Denmark around the year 1900 and quite quickly it is introduced to the better citizens. It was considered a nice thing to have electricity in, so instead of milling the wires into the wall, they were laid in pipes along panels and door frames.

In many places these pipes are still found. The switch itself would hang freely from the ceiling near the wall. Another purpose of the electricity was to summon the auxiliary staff, the maids. A wire would be laid between the floorboards to under the dinner table where the lady of the house would sit, from where she would be able to discreetly call the maid if necessary with a switch like this.