CURIOUS WEDDING CAKES

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2951, 24 November 1900, Page 1 (Supplement)

CURIOUS WEDDING CAKES

(’Jit-Bits.) A remarkable wedding cake was manufactured not long since, at a cost of 800 guineas, to represent the palace of the icequeen, the icebergs with which it was covered being composed of transparent sugar. Somewhat similar was the one designed for the marriage of Rear-Admiral Markham, who served in the Arctic Expedition of 1875. On the summit of the cake, which was sft high, and weighed 801 b, was a sugar model of the Alert stranded on an iceberg, while around were various nautical devices —anchors, capstans, boats, sledges, etc. Below, encircled by two life-buoys, were the Admiral’s Hag and motto. On the Duke of York’s wedding cake were representations of his life when a sailor, the Thrush and Melampus being meddled from photographs specially taken. The weight of this mammoth confection was 2241 b. A few years since, on. ids daughter’s marriage to a gentleman who had made a fortune in the colonies, a wealthy Lancashire merchant ordered a wedding cake emblematic of his son-in-law’s career. It was surmounted by a model of the bridegroom himself in the homely garb of a poor emigrant, while around the drum were scenes representing his struggle with fortune. The lower portion was embellished with sugar bas-reliefs, depicting episodes in the subsequent years when he had attained to affluence.

Hunting trophies were lately chosen bv an M.F.H. to decorate his wedding cake. Around the summit, fox, hounds and huntsmen swept in full career; while below, around the cake itself, were- emblems of the chase, in 'the form of horses’, foxes’, and dogs’ heads, brushes, whips, etc.

When the Duke of \Ve>tminster’.s daughter was married to- Prince Adolphus ‘"’of Teck the panels that surrounded the lower tier of the cake were embellished with views of J-hiton Hall and While Lodge,- the homes respectively of the* bride’s and bridegroom’s parents. Above, on the second tier, was a design of golden .wheat sheave* and stags, the arms of the Grosvenor and Teck families. Very elaborate was a cake made for a lady in imitation of the abode of love. It consisted of a mass of roses and lilies,, artificially scented, among who-e delicatelyformed petals reposed a number of (Jup’ds. This work of art. it is said, cost near’y £IOOO. More costly, though less artistic, wits the cake designed some years since by a man, who bad made, his fortune on the Australian gold-Jields, on I lie occasion of his marriage, it consbted of alternate layers of confectionery and gold. As, however, Iho latter, which consisted of over 2000 sovereigns, were, til the conclusion of the breakfast, distributed among the bridegroom’s poor relations, this extravagance may be said to have been justified. Eccentric wa- the idea of a Sussex lady, the upper port inti of whose wedding cake consisted of a. musical-box etna fully bidden beneath a profuse sugar decoration. This at a. given signal was set going, and the bride’s fair hand cut (he cake to the strains of Mendel-sohn’s " Wedding Abiirh.”

Another tinhpie surprise was that evolved from llte brain of a gentleman who bad started life as a nnehanie. The cake, which formed a conspicuous leal me at- the nuptial board, was covered with a mini her of iignri s, representing artisans, etc., which the guests at first thought were composed of •sugar. o

When the time came, however, for inserting the knife a hidden mechanism—worked by a lever secreted beneath the table—was set in motion, and tlje figures forthwith commenced to ply their tools, to the great amazement and admiration of the company assembled.