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The quote by Loyd Vogt comes from
page 13 of his book entitled New Orleans Houses.
People often use the terms balcony
and gallery interchangeably. However purists describing the French Quarter
make a distinction. A balcony is the narrower of the two projecting out from
the wall no more than three or four feet. A balcony has no columns to support
it. On the other hand the wider gallery becomes the overhang for the sidewalk
and needs the support of columns that are usually make of iron, sometimes
wood. Some buildings sport both a gallery and above that a balcony. The Pontalba
Apartments show this aspect well.
Although wrought iron and cast
iron share iron as the common element, their different compositions result
in two different products. Wrought iron contains about 0.2 per cent carbon
and has impurities running about 0.5 percent. Cast iron can have a carbon
content ranging from 2.0 to a high of 4.5 percent. It also contains silicon,
sulfur, manganese, and phosphorous. So rather than being easily forged, beaten
and formed into any shape like wrought iron, it is brittle and non-malleable.
Wrought iron is a lustrous iron that takes a high polish and resists rust,
while cast iron needs a coat of pain to protect it. According to Bruce,
bronze and a soft bright green were the colors of choice. The former was the
original color of the railings on the Pontalba Apartments.
Free men of color and slaves played a large role in crafting wrought iron. According to Christian, their size and strength compared to other immigrant ironworkers gave them an edge. For example, he referred to the physical description of five men, immigrant ironworkers that had landed in the colony in 1719. They ranged in height from 4.6 feet to 5.5 feet (however, he gave no specifics on the heights of slaves). He also noted that some newly arrived slaves demonstrated an aptitude for ironwork. The slaves, perhaps unknowingly, were following an African tradition. Dr. Alain Locke stated that "metal forging is one of Africa’s oldest and greatest arts" (Christian).
As early as 1721 the new French
colony asked France to send white ironworkers "to teach their trade to the
Negroes." Although ironworkers existed in Africa, no documents indicate that
any slave arrived already knowing the skill. Apprenticing slaves was a common
practice. Not only did owners use the slave ironworkers on their own properties,
but they also hired out the trained slave "at a figure that would in a few
years regain the money that had been invested in him" (Christian). Some slaves
were even able to make deals to buy their freedom from the income of their
trade.
Bibliography
Alexander, Christopher; Ishikawa,
Sara; Silverstein, Murray. (1977). A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings,
Constructions. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Barnett, Cara Chastang. (194?).
Fascinating New Orleans and its Iron Lacework.
place
Bruce, Curt. (1977). The Great
Houses of New Orleans. New York, NY: Knopf, Inc.
place
Christian, Marcus. (1972). Negro
Ironworkers of Louisiana, 1718-1900. Gretna, LA: Pelican Publishing Company.
place
Heard, Malcolm. (1997). French
Quarter Manual. New Orleans, LA: Garrity Printing, Inc.
Huber, Leonard V. (1984). Landmarks
of New Orleans. New Orleans, LA: Laborde Printing Company.
Masson, Ann M. and Schmalz, Lydia
H. (1995). Cast Iron and the Crescent City. (Louisiana Landmarks Society)
Muse, Vance. (1988). Old New
Orleans: Great American Homes. Birmingham, AL: Oxmoor House.
Vogt, Lloyd. (1985). New Orleans
Houses. Gretna, LA: Pelican Publishing Company.
Wilson, Samuel. (1987). The Architecture of Colonial Louisiana. Lafayette, LA: The Center for Louisiana Studies, University of Southwestern Louisiana.