Kerosene lamps appeared in Russia in the mid-19th century, soon after the discovery of the new distillation product. Before that, oil and grease lamps were used as light sources. In the early 1870s, the young gymnasium student Anton Chekhov did homework under dim lighting,

“The short winter day is drawing to a close; it is almost dark in the yard, and in front of Antosha, a tallow candle flickers, the wick of which has to be regularly trimmed using a snuffer”, recalled the writer’s older brother, Alexander Chekhov.

The name “kerosene” derives from the Greek word meaning “wax”. The new type of fuel quickly became popular in Europe because it did not produce soot or smell and burned brightly and cleanly. The development of kerosene production required innovative extraction and refining technologies. The oil business was called “kerosene production” in Russia and was taken to another level at the turn of the 20th century thanks to the effort of the scientists Vladimir Markovnikov, Dmitri Mendeleev, and Viktor Ragozin, as well as the entrepreneurs Vasily Kokorev, Robert and Ludvig Nobel, and the Mirzoev brothers.

Kerosene lamps became widespread. Workshops began to produce cheap lamps affordable to customers from all social groups. Expensive kerosene lamps for wealthy customers were made of bronze, gold, and silver, and decorated with painting, colored glass, exquisite porcelain, and stucco decoration.

Over a hundred years, the design of a kerosene lamp changed very little. A lamp consisted of a kerosene burner, a wick, a fuel tank, and a glass chimney. The flame was controlled by a small knob that helped to adjust how much of the wick extended above the wick tube.

There were also lamps without a wick: their design was similar to that of a primus. Moreover, a kerosene lamp could be equipped with a lampshade and a mantle. Lamps with a lampshade were rarely moved. As a rule, they had a permanent position in the house. The most popular type of lampshade was the one made of deep green glass.

In the early 20th century, kerosene lamps began to be gradually replaced by electric and gas lighting. However, even today, kerosene lamps and lanterns are used in remote villages without a stable electricity supply, as well as on camping trips and expeditions.