Name/Title
Sweetmeat MoldEntry/Object ID
1970.15.1Description
Tin mold with ribbed arch sides and fluted edges. A design featuring a bundle of wheat and a sickle is at the peak.Use
Sweetmeat molds were used to shape cakes of dried fruits, nuts, and spiced honey or sugar into decorative designs.Context
From the seventeenth to nineteenth centuries, dense and decorative sweetmeats served as both visual and flavorful centerpieces for festive occasions and lavish meals. The molds used to shape these treats were often made from metal but could be made from ceramic or wood. The molds featured intricate patterns and shapes that would imprint upon the sweetmeat.
In nineteenth-century America, wheat held significant symbolic value. As a major crop, particularly in the Midwest, wheat came to represent a variety of concepts, including the fertility of the land, economic prosperity, and the nation's belief in Manifest Destiny—the idea that the United States was destined to expand westward across the continent. While Manifest Destiny contributed to the country's economic growth, it also led to the displacement of thousands of Native Americans, the exploitation of natural resources, conflicts with Mexico, and increased tensions over the issue of slavery.Dimensions
Height
4 inWidth
6-1/2 inLength
5-5/8 in
