Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-06-28
BY Raglan

The introduction this season OF
ornamental iron work into Browns
yille's House Beautiful has brought
a new art 10 this city. These dec
orative touches Of hand wrought
iron are not by any means a new
idea but they have become decided
" q fashion with those persons who
arik interested in the Identification
~ home and garden.
Lamps, gates. balconies. and
screened doors with all the grace
and beauty of hand made work
cannot be compared with the sin-
liar adornments made Of cast iron
which were used here many years
ago. The few picturesque balconies,
window grills. and fences which
cling to some OF the old buildings
are indeed a part of the architec-
tural atmosphere OF Brownsville.
But their charm Is confined to
their historic and antique qualities.
The history OF the hand wrought
iron as we see 1t here today really
dates back TO the Moors and Span
iards and to the people Of the early
Asiatic countries. The cities Of Mn
leo are still filled with antique iron
decorations in numerous patterns,
And u own New Orleans allures
art collectors who would own a bit
OF some treasured old iron. The
people Of San Antonio and Houston
are beginning to turn to Brownsville
for some of the new variety. Tour
lists in the Valley proudly carry
home a piece-"Made in Browns
Vile" And OF course Brownsville
feels very fortunate III having an
artist in this craft. John Rezek, who
knows both the old and new phases
O. the work.
Il learned the trade In the old
country, in Austria, when I was
fourteen years old" Mr.. Rezek told
me And ! am still studying
In Austria we made many more
things from iron than you see here
even the door locks we made by
hand" He told me OF his travels
before coming TO the United States
and Of the primitive iron workers
he saw in Egypt. They sat or the
curbstcnss and fashioned their
wares with crude tools.
MY interest was aroused in
BrownSv.lle's good fortune in at
tracting this exceptional industrial
art.
II was in Mississippi" Mr.. Rezek
said. and l wrote TO various cham
bers of commerce in Texas. And
Of all the answers ! received the
most encouraging one came from
Brownsville. so here I am. And II
was al true that Mr.. Richardson
said.' he FASTENED to add.
In looking about our city the
many new Spanish type homes as
well as the older established resi-
dences may be seen taking on the
effective old-new iron decorations.
One OF the decidedly new effects
seen in the Valley is the porch
screening in the new home OF Mr..
and Mrs. Dean Porter near Bar
reda. Ornamental as well as USE
full are these three sections OF cop
per screening with native scenic
de1p-ations at top and bottom. The
desI In. drawn by Grier Riemer,
landscape architect. Is a continuous
picture OF palm trees. YuccaS. sew
eral varieties OF cactus and Spanish
moss which become silhouetted
against the light. Mr.. Rezek en-
larged the design, cut paper pat
terms BY which he cut the scene
from sheet copper and soldered It
Ia the screen. An unusual and
charming result has been obtained.
The copper trees have turned sew
eral shades Of realistic green due
m~-~'y - handling.
Nt',er Spanish type homes are
f'-Sing appropriate finish in
wrought iron chandeliers. balloon
les. house numbers. window grills.
ard chimney iron. the latter often
h-i-- n shin silhouette. Mrs. W. z.
N--a-'tt has selected an attractive
cate az wrought iron as complement
n the garden wall az her home on
st. Charles street. Mrs. c. r. Tyrrel