Lot Essay
Serving sweetmeat at engagement parties and weddings began during the 17th Century. Almonds were soaked for twenty-four hours, sugared and mixed with rose-water and finely cooked. Today these and other kinds of sweets are still served as wedding sweets.
In the second half of the 18th Century a special sweetmeat wedding-basket appeared. The basket was fitted with a centrepiece which divided the basket in two or four separated areas, which prevented mixing of the different wedding sweetmeats. The decoration of the centrepieces vary, they typically include designs of flowers, birds or columns. The centrepiece was removable enabling the basket to be used for other purposes after the wedding.
In the second half of the 18th Century a special sweetmeat wedding-basket appeared. The basket was fitted with a centrepiece which divided the basket in two or four separated areas, which prevented mixing of the different wedding sweetmeats. The decoration of the centrepieces vary, they typically include designs of flowers, birds or columns. The centrepiece was removable enabling the basket to be used for other purposes after the wedding.