Origins: Marzipan, a sweet paste made of ground (blanched) almonds, sugar, and eggs, and used in cake fillings, icings, and other confectionaries, is often colored and molded into all sorts of visually appealing treats that resemble miniature versions of food (or other
objects).
Human babies, however, are not something we generally consider to be a visually appealing form for edibles (particularly when presented as realistically as shown in the images above), a fact that perhaps explains the appeal of these photographs — we’re drawn to them as a fascinating example of culinary and artistic craftsmanship, but at the same time we’re disquieted that the thought of eating them is almost a vicarious form of cannibalism.
Fortunately, we don’t have to ponder the deeper meaning of the symbolism here, because the items pictured above are not made of marzipan, nor are they edible. They’re 2- to 5-inch sculptures created by artist Camille Allen (including some entries from her Shell Baby line of miniatures), and they’re made from Prosculpt polymer clay and mohair. Definitely not the kind of thing most of us would find palatable.
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