ottoman

Reproduction in clay of figures in an Ottoman Parade carrying sugar scultures on their head.

Reproductions of drawings of sugar sculptures 15th - 18th century

Just like Gold
Sugar Sculptures: The Early Years

Can you imagine 73,300 kilos of sugar used to make table sized sugar works? The story of sugar sculpture began with extremes. Sugar cost as much as gold and the royalty had all that they desired. At the same time, famine, poverty and war plagued their countries.

These 73,300 kilos of sugar (161,597 pounds) were used by Caliph al-Zahir for post-Ramadan celebrations in the 11th century. In 1287, Edward I used 1,877 pounds. In 1288, he used 6,258 pounds of sugar.

At an Ottoman festival in Istanbul in 1582, specialized artists, known as sukker nakkasarli, “created several hundred cast sugar figures for a spectacular procession to commemorate the circumcision of the son of Sultan Murad III. These included giraffes, elephants, lions, fountains and castles, some of which were so large that they had to be carried by four people.” (Royal Sugar Sculpture, Ivan Day)

During the medieval era, the English court feasted with four courses. Between each course, a subtlety was presented to the guests. These subtleties, also called sotelties, were sculptural centerpieces made using sugar, marzipan, wax, or some other more orthodox material. The theme for these subtleties offered entertainment and conversation between the four courses. Madeleine Cosman, in Fabulous Feasts, describes these:

“A Subtlety representing Spring, A youthful Figure, Sanguineus...
A Subtlety: Summer, A Warrior, Colericus...
A Subtlety: Autumn, A Weary Man, Fleumaticus...
A Subtlety: Winter, An Old Man, Melancolicus.”