New Orleans has lots of gingerbread detailing, and most of it is located where I was staying, in Algiers Point.
I've made a map to help orient you. The French Quarter is the oldest part of New Orleans, and Algiers Point, right across the Mississippi, is the second-oldest area. A large fire destroyed much of Algiers in the mid-1800s, so it was rebuilt in the style of the mid- to late-1800s, which favored gingerbread. (I've included the Lower 9th Ward on this map because my next posting will be about an interesting project there.)
I saw so much gingerbread that I wanted to share with you, but getting the full impact was a little problematic, especially when shooting upward and at a distance. So I've decided to show a comparison of a few of Algiers' many gingerbread brackets.
Here's where I stayed, a charming house
with fancy brackets of its own.
Even the chimneys of New Orleans have gingerbread!
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Hello Mark:
ReplyDeleteAll this architectural detailing is so very attractive. We love the way that you have compiled the photographs of the brackets for comparison, the many variations are fascinating. And, the paint colours ..... wonderful!
oh how fun! what a great collection of brackets! of course in san francisco we love this sort of thing, we can't help it. but new orleans does it with so much more joie de vivre!
ReplyDeleteThe inventiveness of the gingerbread and other architectural ornament manufacturers was staggering. It might be an illusion of the angle of your shots, but these southern brackets seem narrower than what you usually encounter up north. When I was in New Orleans, I noticed that much of the fancy ironwork gingerbread was stamped with foundry names from the North--usually the Great Lakes area.
ReplyDelete--Road to Parnassus
Hello Mark, Fantastic Post. Beautiful photographs of gingerbread decorations. But most of all, I love your orientation map. Shows what a very talented graphic designer you are.
ReplyDeleteHello, Jane and Lance - The colors truly are wonderful, and they're side by side. As I was putting together the images of the brackets, I was reminded of a poster I admired years ago - it was The Doors of Ireland - perhaps you've seen it ...
ReplyDeleteHi, Lynne - The Painted Ladies of San Francisco certainly came to mind as I was photographing all the color and gingerbread of New Orleans! One aspect of New Orleans architecture that shouldn't be overlooked is that almost every house has a really great porch.
ReplyDeleteHello, Parnassus - The brackets pictured are pretty substantial when seen in person, but I know the northern brackets of which you speak. They're usually made from three plies and they're almost a half foot wide! What I particularly enjoyed about the New Orleans gingerbread was all the beading along the edges.
ReplyDeleteDear Gina, Thank you for your comment — it brought a smile to my face and made my day!
ReplyDeleteLove the bracket comparision! Reminds me of those 'doors of *fill in the blank*' posters you see everywhere which always fascinate me!
ReplyDeleteArchitectDesign
hi Mark
ReplyDeletethe paint jobs in New Orleans were also a big thrill for me when I was there last year. I wrote this post about the Vieux-Carré you might like: http://www.ornamentalist.net/2010/11/vieux-carre-color.html
Hello Mark- I love those brackets and the way you have displayed them deserves a 10/10. The home owners have to be really brave to use the paint colour combinations that have been used, but how well they all work.
ReplyDeleteHi, Stefan - I was definitely thinking of those posters when I was putting this posting together. My own favorite was The Doors of Ireland.
ReplyDeleteHi, Lynne - I just visited your posting on the Vieux-Carré, and enjoyed your choice of photos. The color scheme of that first photo is astounding — such an unlikely combination and it's exquisite! Thanks for the link!
ReplyDeleteHi, Rosemary - I am currently painting the outside of my own house, which for years has been a very successful peach, coral and blue. The houses of New Orleans are so wonderful, though, that I have decided to go with a new color scheme, which will probably closer to that of the top left bracket, the one in greens.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see the new paint job on the house. You will share?
ReplyDeleteI love all the gingerbread brackets and gingerbread trim and even, gingerbread cookies. It's that time of year. :)
I love too, the little house you were starying in. Charming.
Are you back refreshed after your sojourn in The Big Easy? Hope so.
Hi, Yvette - I'm returned and ready to get back to painting walls and trim. I googled to find out the best weather for painting, and Sherwin Williams says above 50 degrees, which is not a problem in Florida, even this time of year. But it'll be a while before I'm ready for an unveiling — there's more to do here than painting before I'll be ready for the Home and Garden tour!
ReplyDeleteWelcome back Mark,
ReplyDeleteThe pride of ownership is so evident and the beautiful colour combinations-very inspiring. Love the map!
Anyes
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Thanks Anyes - when I was in grade school, I aspired to be a mapmaker — in large part because I enjoyed all the old cartouches, compass roses, sea monsters and fancy legends. I still have fun making maps!
ReplyDeleteDear anonymous DIY commentor — Your comment was unfortunately lost, but I do appreciate your visit!
ReplyDelete