Takiang, a typical Thai lamp, is a device that has a wick to produce light fuelled by oil. There are many types of takiang, such as the ones made of bottles or milk cans and using rolled zinc to hold the wick, made of unbleached cotton thread or a piece of cloth. The wick is put into the bottle or milk can, which is full of kerosene. As the wick soaks up kerosene, it can burn to produce light.
From the most common plate-like ceramics for placing candles or burning gum benjamin, Takiang have been developed into several shapes. Animal wax has been used to replace kerosene.A lamp with a glass cover to protect the flame from the wind is called takiang po; and the one with a handle is called takiang rua (barn lantern). Takiang Ian has a fan blade propelled by a coil spring to drive away smoke, and takiang chao phayu is a pressure lantern, in which air is, compressed and oil is sprayed onto the wick. Today, however, local people have turned to use gas lamps, as they are more convenient.