The uses to which Gum Paste may be applied are
almost indefinite; to any purposes of ornamentation it
lends its supple consistence, requiring little more than
the skilled hand to evoke a series of such exquisite
productions that neither alabaster nor marble can excel
in appearance. It admits of colouring, taking delicate
tints and high tones (gold or silver) with equal facility,
and when dried is stronger than potters’ clay. If Gum
Paste were better known it would be more highly
appreciated than it is ; the great drawback to its use
is the mistaken notion that ornaments made with it
and sugar are represented as edible. Omit the sugar,
and give the paste the credit only that is due to it,
For details respecting Culinary Processes, Utensils, Sauces, cLc\, referred to, see under their special heads.
TEE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PRACTICAL COOKERY.
729
Gum Paste — continued.
and moulding or modelling in Gum Paste would soon
become a fashionable and artistic amusement. Manu-
facturers supplying confectioners’ wares now supply
Gum Paste ornaments, fashioned with such skill and
after such exquisite designs, at such low rates that
it is generally considered waste of time to make them
for oneself ; but the artist-cook will not rest contented
with the work of others, so a few suggestions will be
acceptable, bearing in mind that it would be impos-
sible to give moi-e than the merest outline of what
may be said to constitute an art by itself. A special
set of tools are required, to be obtained of any mould-
maker, and these, when working, must be continually
dipped in powdered starch.
Borders in Gum Paste may be made in a variety of
ways, but the most simple appears to be to roll the
paste out to the required length and thickness on a
sheet of paper, white or coloured, lying on another
sheet. The border is then cut out with a metal stamp,
made for the purpose, and when completed can be
raised on the paper, and applied where and in what
manner desired. A few patterns, specially designed for
this Encyclopaedia by an expert confectioner, are shown
at c on the Plate (No. 1), representing a military fruit-
trophy. Such borders can be used for almost any
purpose, and when coloured or gilt they resemble metal.
Stands, vases, baskets, cups, fruits, and a variety of
other useful and ornamental articles can be formed with
Gum Paste ; for instance, a very pretty stand ca.n be
worked out on an inverted basin (see A on Plate No. 2,
representing a basket for fruit) which has been previously
oiled. When the stand has to carry any great weight, it
is advisable to strengthen the legs and body with wooden
skewers, as shown by the dotted lines. It is then
advisable to mix Spanish white with the paste instead of
sugar. Supposing this stand to be modelled and worked
out satisfactorily, upon a larger basin or mould the bowl
of a large vase can be designed, as shown at b. This should
also be strengthened by a block of wood supplied with a
wooden spike, which fits into the hole (A) in the stand.
Page 20
Presented as published in 1892. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
The uses to which Gum Paste may be applied are almost indefinite; to any purposes of ornamentation it lends its supple consistence, requiring little more than the skilled hand to evoke a series of such exquisite productions that neither alabaster nor marble can excel in appearance. It admits of colouring, taking delicate tints and high tones (gold or silver) with equal facility, and when dried is stronger than potters’ clay. If Gum Paste were better known it would be more highly appreciated than it is ; the great drawback to its use is the mistaken notion that ornaments made with it and sugar are represented as edible. Omit the sugar, and give the paste the credit only that is due to it,
For details respecting Culinary Processes, Utensils, Sauces, cLc\, referred to, see under their special heads.
Gum Paste — continued.
and moulding or modelling in Gum Paste would soon become a fashionable and artistic amusement. Manufacturers supplying confectioners’ wares now supply Gum Paste ornaments, fashioned with such skill and after such exquisite designs, at such low rates that it is generally considered waste of time to make them for oneself ; but the artist-cook will not rest contented with the work of others, so a few suggestions will be acceptable, bearing in mind that it would be impossible to give moi-e than the merest outline of what may be said to constitute an art by itself. A special set of tools are required, to be obtained of any mouldmaker, and these, when working, must be continually dipped in powdered starch.
Borders in Gum Paste may be made in a variety of ways, but the most simple appears to be to roll the paste out to the required length and thickness on a sheet of paper, white or coloured, lying on another sheet. The border is then cut out with a metal stamp, made for the purpose, and when completed can be raised on the paper, and applied where and in what manner desired. A few patterns, specially designed for this Encyclopaedia by an expert confectioner, are shown at c on the Plate (No. 1), representing a military fruittrophy. Such borders can be used for almost any purpose, and when coloured or gilt they resemble metal.
Stands, vases, baskets, cups, fruits, and a variety of other useful and ornamental articles can be formed with Gum Paste ; for instance, a very pretty stand ca.n be worked out on an inverted basin (see A on Plate No. 2, representing a basket for fruit) which has been previously oiled. When the stand has to carry any great weight, it is advisable to strengthen the legs and body with wooden skewers, as shown by the dotted lines. It is then advisable to mix Spanish white with the paste instead of sugar. Supposing this stand to be modelled and worked out satisfactorily, upon a larger basin or mould the bowl of a large vase can be designed, as shown at b. This should also be strengthened by a block of wood supplied with a wooden spike, which fits into the hole (A) in the stand.