Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-06
FANCIEs FOR WEDDING CAKES.
Tasteful and Cnique Design. for Their
characterization, Some BEING Very Elaborate.
NIARORATE ORNAMENTS EOR WEn-

TASTEFUL and unique Designs for Their
characterization, Some Being Very Elaborate.
ELABORATE ORNAMENTS FOR WE'D
- ding cakes IRE just now in fashion. They
are made chief, of a mixture Of sugar and
starch. called gum paste" with profusion OF
pretty flowers and leaves fashioned out Of gum
paste and muslin. without a design Of this
sort d bride cake is not complete For ex.
ample. one represents Cupid armed with q
gilded sledge hammer and engaged in smashing
with il two hearts into one on an anvil In
Others the god of love is dropping a letter into
mail box, ringing marriage bell. playing a
Wedding march on a harp or standing beneath
an umbrella to symbolic protection. A pain
of scales is emblematic of equity in the relation.
OF the newly welded souple. But the favorits
style of thing is a representation in gum paste
Of bride and groom in the conventional matri.
monial attitude. the former in a white veil and
the latter in evening dress. Sometimes Cupid
stands behind them. bestowing a blessing or
ringing bell There are not less than 200
different designs, all Of them being accom-
panied by n profusoa of imitation flowers
Most elaborate Of all is one that goes by
ciockwork. the bridal couple riding around on
top OF the cake in a beautiful chariot. while a
bridesmaid and groomsman dance svmpa-
theucally. Cupid in little car precedes the
vehicle of the welded pair. The price of this
work of art is $50 After the wedding cake
has been eaten II il customary TO preserve the
ornament under glass shade. OF course the
blossoms represented are aiwavs those which
are conyentionallv associated with matrimony,
such as orange blossoms. may bells and lilies Of
the valley. The bells are quite real and tinkie
prettily. being made of glass silvered over
Harp strings are OF gilt wire. Cupid is some
tunes seen standing beneath a marriage bell
ana carrying two rings on silk cushion. For
the more serious-minded a design is pro-
vided IN the shape Of a cross. anchor and
heart IN white gum paste. IL reminds one
somewhat OF the cemetery. but il goes A
small mirror is usually feature in cake orna-
ments at Jewish weddings, the breaking Of a
glass peing part OF the regular ceremonial
with people of that faith.
The ornamental designs are turned ont in the
rough from mods and finished bv hand. For
instance, each Cupid is cast in gum paste with
plaster of paris mods. the front half and the
back half being done separately. The halves
are put together by skilled workman and thus
the nude BODY of the little mischief maker is
prepared. 1t il pink. a small quantity of car
mine having been worked into the gum paste
originally. Nevertheless. he is not vet in pre-
sentable condition. not only for lack of clothes.
but for the reason that he has as vet no arms nor
ears nor hair. The arms are fashioned out of
bits of gum paste by the delft fingers of the arti-
are cast separately in molds. and they are stuck
on likewise. the substance being quite plastic
until it has had time to harden. All this work
Is done on cold marble slab, so that the mate
RAJ may not get too soft in the process o.
kneading. Sometimes the clothing of the
Cupid Is made of gum paste and sometimes il
II cut ont of silk or cotton lace
In the former case the gum paste is rolled
out very thin on the marble slab and then
the workman shapes ii into graceful pleats and
folds around the body of the Cupid. Finally the
wings are cast in gum paste and stuck on, I'M
less gauze wings are 10 be employed. The
bride and groom are made in precisely the
same manner, only that they are not pink, the
groom g dress suit being painted black. as well
as his hair, and the bride being adorned with a
gauze veil. Flowers are nodded from the gum
paste BIZ free-hand, with the fingers and with
wooden modelling tools. while the muslin leaves
are pressed out with dies. Gum raste wedding
bells and all sorts of fancy adornments are cast
in molds.