Mardi Gras Treasures: Float Designs of the Golden Age

by Henri Schindler

The fantastic parade floats of Carnival's Golden Age (1870-1930) depicted themes drawn from mythology, epic literature, history, nature, and whimsy. The glimmering processions of the masked gods and bearded kings of New Orleans Carnival occupy a central position among the rites and glories of this great festival. The long succession of these glowing, torch-lit pageants--with their towering monsters and fantastic decors, their papier-m chE kingdoms and diamond-dust thrones--became the greatest and most beloved of New Orleans communal rituals. The introduction of the float brought tremendous artistry to the splendid conveyances for carnival revelry, but the artists and builders who created the fabled pageants have remained obscure or unknown, their amazing body of work largely forgotten. Even the surviving watercolor float plates and chromolithographed Carnival Bulletins are works of art and prized by collectors, as so few of these fragile items remain. Presented in this collection are dazzling examples of original float designs as rendered in watercolor and lithographs--most of them reproduced here for the first time.

160 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Redsteve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated collection of float designs (sketches, watercolors, prints and color lithographs - as well as a tiny number of black and white photos) from the Krewes of Comus, Momus, Rex, and Proteus 1870-1930. Each section includes biographies of the principle float designers of each period and information about the prevailing styles and techniques used. This book is part of Henri Schindler's MARDI GRAS TREAURES collection, which also includes books on costuming, ball invitations (Yes, this is a complex art form in itself), and krewe jewelry.