Sugar sculpture

These were very popular at grand feasts from the Renaissance until at least the 18th century, and sometimes made by famous artists.

Sugar was very expensive by modern standards, and sculptures in it a form of conspicuous consumption, reflecting wealth.

The sugar can then be sculpted by hand into various shapes, made into ribbons, or blown.

Granulated sugar is mixed with a minimal amount of water, and is put under pressure.

The liquid sugar is blended with a small amount of royal icing.

The mixture is quickly poured into a lined dish, and placed into a blast chiller to set.

Sugar syrup is made into long extremely thin strands which can be shaped to make things like birds' nests.

This traditional Chinese art form uses heated, liquid sugar to create three dimensional, often blown figures.

A Mother Goose nursery rhyme refers to sugar sculpture:Wasn't it funny?