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

. The introduction this season OF
ornamental iron work into Browns
ville's House Beautiful has brought
a new art 10 this city. These dec
orative touches OF hand wrought
iron are not by any means q new
iaea< but they have become decided
W fashion with those persons VINO
OF home and garden.
Lamps, gates, balconies, and
screened doors with all the grace
and beauty OF hand made work
cannot be compared with the sim
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 10
their historic and antique qualities.
The history Of the hand wrought
iron as VIC see ID here today really
dates back 10 the Moors and Span
iards and to the people Of the early
Asiatic countries. The cities Of Nh
leo are still filled with antique iron
decorations in numerous patterns,
And our 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 in having an
artist in this craft, John Rezek, who
knows both the old and new phases
Q: the work.
Il learned the trade in the Old
country. in Austria. when I was
fourteen years old" Mr.. Rezek told
me And l am still studying
I'm 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 10 the United States
and OF the primitive iron workers
he saw IN Egypt. They sat on the
curbs.ones and fashioned their
wares WITH crude tools.
My interest was aroused in
Brownsv4lleS good fortune II at
tracing this exceptional industrial
art.
II was in Mississippi Mr.. Rezek
said. and / wrote 20 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 It
was all true that Mr.. Richardson
said he FASTENED 10 add.
In looking about our city the
many new Spanish type homes as
well as the older established resi-
dences may be see taking on the
reflective old-new iron decorations.
One OF the decidedly new effects
seen in the Valley is the porch
creening in the new home OF Mr..
nd Mrs. Dean Porter near Bar
da. Ornamental as well as use
are these three sections OF cop
screening with native scenic
atoms at top and bottom. The
d. drawn by Grier Riemer.
sfape architect. Is a continuous
e Of palm trees. YuccaS. sew
k~rieties OF cactus and Spanish
which become silhouetted
the light. Mr.. Rezek en-
he design. cut paper pat
which he cut the scene
ret copper and soldered It
screen. An unusual and
result has been obtained.
Ter trees have turned sew
les OF realistic green due
handling.
Spanish type homes are
appropriate finish in
iron chandeliers. balloon
numbers. window grills.
hey iron. the latter often
hin silhouette. Mrs. w. <.
he's selected an attractive
|roueht iron rs complement
arden wall at her home on
les street. Mrs. G. r. Tyrrell