A six foot chocolate sculpture of the iconic Concorde, unveiled at Zara’s Chocolates in Southville, has been described as a ‘world first’ . The sweet sculpture is part of the city’s ‘Edible Histories’ project and will be tasted at a ‘chocolate smashing’ event later in the year as a charity fundraiser.
The delicious Concorde replica will be wrapped in gold foil and will go on display at Aerospace Bristol alongside the much larger real-life jet next week. Bristol artist, Luke Jerram designed the stunning sculpture which was made by artisan chocolatier, Zara Leahy from Zara’s Chocolates in Southville.
Luke said the sculpture is the third in a series of five replicas which will be made during the project this year, all of which tell the story of Bristol. He said despite the warm summer temperatures, the sculptures will all be kept in temperature controlled rooms at different museums around the city.
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Luke said: “Concorde is an iconic piece of design, no doubt about it. And the whole point of Edible Histories is to talk about the famous items, collections and objects that make the city I'm proud to live in what it is today.
"Although, I have to say, with the climate crisis being the number one issue of our time, and considering it produced more pollution per passenger-mile than any other commercial aircraft in history, it's certainly a good thing this Concorde jet will remain on the ground."
The sweet arts project is being funded by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority (WECA) and Mayor Dan Norris said the south west region has produced “astonishing aviation achievements.”
He added: “With its iconic pointed nose and sonic boom speeds, Concorde is probably the most famous jet of all time - one designed, built and made by Bristolians, and other West of England residents.
“I’m delighted to celebrate this by showing off this supersonic chocolate creation. It is all part of a brilliant project celebrating the fascinating history around some of the objects and places that define this most extraordinary city, told through everyone’s favourite sweet substance”.
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The first chocolate sculpture created was a ship’s wheel which is a one metre in diameter replica from the M-Shed Museum. It is on display in The Galleries and represents the wheel which came from the decommissioned ship TSS Bayano which traded in bananas and rum from the Caribbean as well as serving in both world wars.
The second replica was also a one metre diameter chocolate sculpture of a button from Glenside Hospital Museum. It represents the many patients who underwent care at the hospital and is on display in the museum.
The remaining two sculptures are still to be unveiled, but will be selected from Wild Place Project and Tyntesfield. The chocolate Concorde will be display at Aerospace Bristol from 30 June to October.
In October, all the five sculptures will be brought together at an event in the city centre which details are still to be announced. Ten members of the public, who will be chosen in an online ballot, will ceremoniously break them up using specially designed giant hammers.
The event will raise money for local charities. Luke said that some of the chocolate will be distributed to food banks across the city.
