Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-07-19
WROUGHT IRON
. IS BEAUTIFIER
One of Most Ancient Arts
Finds Way To Valley
From Egypt, Spain

Hand wrought ornamental iron Is
one of the really old artcrafts
which has survived this highly
concentrated machine age. And In
Brownsville and the Lower Valley
this season many examples OF the
hand work may be seen. Almost
every new home and garden Is
adding a distinctive touch OF the
old-new iron.
The popular Spanish style OF ar
chitecture so appropriate TO this
southern border section finds pro-
per complement in a balcony. a
patio gate. a porch lantern, a win
dow grill OF a weather vane. What
yer the architect DR. builder de-
sires. may be had here In Browns
vile.
A few OF the old buildings In this
city show traces Of the cast iron
decorations which were In fashion
several decades ago. But they can
In no manner compare with hand
wrought iron accessories TO the
modern homes.
Clyde A. Thorpe OF the Interna-
tional Iron Works. an authority on
this interesting art Of ornamental
iron. tells us that this industry is
not by any means new. Although
this type OF home decoration Is
exceedingly fashionable. It really
found It's origin IN Damascus many
years before the birth Of Christ.
Mr.. Thorpe has made an exhaus-
tive study Of the history OF orna-
mental iron and last year deliver
ed a series OF lectures on differ
ent phases OF his work from radio
station KWWG.
IL should be interesting 70 own
ers as well as % admirers Of ron
pieces to know that the original
ornamental hand wrought iron was
used exclusively for the decoration
of the famous Damascus sword
handles. Later the industry was
taken un by the Egyptians who
made tools and decorations Tor
their gardens from the black IRON
No doubt the yards and patlos 81
Brownsville today have something
in common with the gardens OF
Pharaoh centuries ago.
The Egyptians did not follow
their new art for long. And II was
not until the fourth century that
the Spaniards took up the work
and readily became the most tall
ented and noted artists the world
has ever known. The Spaniaros
still hold this undisputed title.
A-~~ &A4r industrial
art has found its way TO Mexico
and the American border, a section
which speaks OF Old Spain IN
more ways than language and Gus
toms.
Brownsville Is proud Of having a
thriving industry which combines
beauty. history and expert work
manship as does the making OF
ornamental iron. the hand wrought
variety. Mr.. Thorpe is one Of the
skilled opponents Of this craft.
His work adorns the home OF Mr.
and Mrs. Lawrence Brady IN Los
Ebanos. Here the balconies. dou-
BILE gates. and screen door grill
have been effectively used to
hance the beauty of the home and
garden. Mr.. and Mrs G. r. Tyrell
have used TO an advantage some
balconies. a stair rail and patio
gate OF the hand made iron IN the
building OF their new home in Bay
view. w. ID Van Siclen was the
designer for these pieces.
The appearance OF chimney iron
in the form Of a silhouette Of the
Santa Maria ship is new this sea-
son. Mr.. and Mrs. Fay Rockwell
chose this adornment. grills and
lamps TO add to the beauty OF their
yellow stucco home in Los Ebanos.
A few weather vanes are TO be
seen. one surmounts the roof OF
Mr.. and Mrs. r. Espinal HAMMERS
nome in Riverside. It's rooster de-
sign was made by Manuel Vargas
OF Mexico but II also reminds us
Of the numerous weather vanes so
typical In the New England states.
Perhaps II is because Mr.. Thorpe
who made this particular weather
vane came from New England him
self. He has travelled throughout
the United States. in Mexico. and
in Canada. But now Mr. Thorpe
is a resident of Brownsville and his
work in the Identification OF homes
and gardens here is fast being re-
cQgnized.