Áudio tour 1880-1940's Wedding Cake Toppers

Castle Farms owner Linda Mueller started her wedding cake topper collection after reading a magazine article about brides using vintage cake toppers. Linda still had her own cake topper from her wedding to husband Richard in 1969. Linda dusted off the family heirloom, found an empty display cabinet in the Main Office Foyer, and thus a new Castle collection was born.

The tradition of wedding cakes can be traced back to ancient Roman times, but it wasn’t until the Victorian era (1837-1901) that cake toppers gain popularity. This piece, from the 1880s, features a couple made of spun sugar. In keeping with Victorian times (known for its high moral values), the couple stand apart, rather than in a formal embrace.

During the Victorian era, a pair of clasped hands signified friendship, courtship, love and marriage. The image of clasped hands proved so popular, it became common for use on wedding cakes. This topper with wax hands dates back to the early 1900’s.

Cake toppers were often sold in bakeries, along with the wedding cake. This Victorian cake topper features frosting more than one hundred years old. Victorian bridal cakes also sometimes featured orange blossoms and sprigs of myrtle, which were handed off to wedding guests as party favors. Queen Victoria’s wedding cake weighed over 300 lbs. The bridal figures stood nearly one foot tall.

Renowned artist Rose O’Neill gained international fame with her Kewpie dolls circa 1912. These rare toppers are made of bisque porcelain (1920-1950). Crepe paper was often used for the clothing, as well as scraps of tulle, lace, and other items.

Source: Castle Farms Blog Post; https://castlefarms.com/blog/peek-into-the-past/historic-cake-toppers/#:~:text=The%20tradition%20of%20wedding%20cakes,that%20cake%20toppers%20gain%20popularity.