Toppers Take the Cake!

We didn't want to let June slip by (though it almost has!) without a timely nod to a wonderful collectible: wedding cake toppers!
Flea Market Style's Tim Luke, who operates TreasureQuest Appraisal Group with Greg Strahm, shares these fun facts about this miniature art form!
* Toppers came about as a way to personalize a cake, providing a unifying symbol of the couple's love and commitment to each other. Luke notes the actual tradition of a wedding cake began in ancient Rome as a loaf of wheat or barley bread. The bride and groom ate a bit of it, then the groom broke the cake over the bride's head. By the 1700s, a sweet version with soft white icing became popular. "Royal Icing" has its roots in the 1840 cake of Queen Victoria, Luke said.
* More than 31,000 toppers are listed for sale on eBay, and they often populate yard sales, thrift stores and antique shops.
* Their value ranges from $50 to $120, depending on condition, materials used and the company making the items. For example, a Lladro cake topper sold on eBay for $52 while a simple plastic topper may only sell for $25. Other prices: a WWII topper with a groom in uniform sold for $100. An early bisque couple sold for $90 and a vintage chalkware duo went for $48.The bottom line?"When picking a topper, it should reflect your style and personality," Luke says. "If you like vintage, go for a vintage topper!"
* Most toppers are made of plastic or resin. Vintage toppers were made of Bisque, china, porcelain or celluloid.
* Toppers today are easily customized to resemble the people who are marrying, something that sets them apart from vintage toppers, which were generic and mass-produced. The toppers pictured are from the weddings of Luke's parents in 1962, Luke's partner Greg's parents in 1948, and from Luke and Greg's ceremony in 2009.
Luke blogs about collectibles and their value here . Be sure to check out the upcoming issue of Flea Market Style for more of his insights on memorabilia and other collectibles!

Kim