Mardi Gras Treasures

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’ch’ kingdoms and diamond-dust thrones--became the greatest and
most beloved of New Orleans communal rituals.
The fantastic parade floats of Carnival’s Golden Age (1870-1930)
illustrated themes drawn from mythology, epic literature, history, nature,
and whimsy. Presented in this collection are thirty dazzling examples of
original float designs as rendered in watercolor and lithographs--most of
them reproduced here for the first time.