The paraffin lamp is an object very much depending on the emerging industrial society of the 19th century; industrial here meaning manufacturing of serial objects for a consumer market spread through (long) distance transporting systems. Paraffin lamps was made in all ranges of price classes, from exclusive to very simple. It thereby was an object found in most homes. Besides this, as most objects between circa 1850–1890, paraffin lamps of this time were designed with careful ornamentation, intricately blending different kinds of historic element to an entirely decorated whole. Through a discussion of the production of three manufacturers – Karlskrona Lampfabrik, Böhlmarks Lampfabrik (both Swedish) and Ernst Voss (Danish) – this paper will analyse what I call “element design” within 19th century manufacturing. 20th century ideas of originality had not had its breakthrough in design at this point in time, yet production was in essence already industrialised. The accustomed design approach where historic ornament functioned as model were however easily adapted to the work station based production line – I argue due to eclecticism being a prolific approach within industry, by the practise of adding and combining forms.