NEW ORLEANS FEATURES - The Glass Menagerie
The Glass Menagerie - Glass & Ceramic Art in New Orleans
While living in New Orleans, Tennessee Williams found the inspiration for Streetcar Named Desire as the Desire Street line rumbled beneath his apartment. He didn't find such local inspiration for the Glass Menagerie but he easily could have. The city is full of brilliant glass and ceramic art. Many galleries lining Royal Street offer exquisite antique and new pieces.
Lord Jim (618 Royal St., 504-524-0914)
Miniature glass and ceramic pieces are the focus of Lord Jim. The shop offers more than 5,000 unique Limoges porcelain boxes. Limoges porcelain is renowned because of the mineral-rich clay used to make it. Pieces can be fired at higher temperatures and thus are stronger and more durable. Most of Lord Jim's pieces are just big enough to fill the palm of the hand. Each is individually painted and the designs range from whimsical animals to white alligators to cartoon characters to France's best champagne bottles. The shop also offers glass paperweights by top creators like Caithness, Baccarat and Saint Louis. Lord Jim also has a selection of carved ivory from Japan and East Asia.
Royal Cameo Glass (322 Royal St., 522-7840)
Cameo glass involves techniques to carve multiple layers of glass, which give a piece depth and color. This is difficult because heating and cooling multiple layers is complicated science. Royal Cameo carries pieces by one of the most renowned names in cameo glass, Kelsey Murphy. The West Virginia artist has managed to sculpt and color as many as 12 layers. Other top cameo glass artists are represented by the gallery as well. Royal Cameo also carries another rare type of glasswork in which paints mixed with glass dust are fused onto a glass piece. Danish artist Ulla Darni presents amazingly rich colored pieces, including beautiful lampshade and chandelier domes.
Studio Inferno (3000 Royal St., 888-875-5001)
New Orleans is home to many talented glass blowers. Mitchell Gaudet is one of the more accomplished artists and his work is sold throughout the United States and Europe. He created Studio Inferno in the Bywater section of New Orleans in 1991. The studio has a shop but is also a workspace. Visitors are welcome to watch the artists at work. Their series include colorful vases and functional pieces as well as cast glass objects like fleur de lys. The Torso Cups combine Martini chic with classical sculpted human torsos as stems.
Jean Bragg Antiques and Gallery (3901 Magazine St., 895-7375)
Jean Bragg's gallery carries a large selection of Newcomb pottery, one of the top art potteries. It is named for Newcomb College, the sister school to Tulane University. The art program was started in the 1880s to train women for self-supporting endeavors. Out of that came the pottery and other Newcomb crafts. The pottery was striking for its cobalt blue and jade green colors but later different finishes and naturalist themes characterized Newcomb work. A wide variety of pieces were made, from plates and bowls to vases, candlesticks and lamp bases. Bragg also carries the work of George E. Ohr. He was trained by one of the Newcomb potters but came up with his own distinctive free-form elements.