Vintage Vignette - Mardi Gras Chickamachaw
Chickamachaw at The French Potager
We live in a world wrought with revelry- a place that is truly apart. And so it was and has always been (okay, not always) that this special time of year sustains our attentions and affections, influences our travel plans, and even sometimes clouds our judgment a little. Some of us are in it for the fame and glory and others are just in for the booze and beads. Yes, I’m speaking of our dear friend, Carnival.
She parades herself down the streets flaunting the most colorful display of the area’s best and brightest, leaving a massive amount of shiny plastic carnage as a parting gift. We’d never cease to love this.
From the preparation to the grand finale, Mardi Gras has been known to leave us with a hefty amount of by-product, or Chickamachaw [chick-a-ma-chaw] - as I’ve heard it referred to by a most-respectable New Orleanian. Most of us either toss it out or generously donate it to unsuspecting tourists. But as you can imagine, there has been a trail of beautiful debris scattered along the Coast throughout the history of this grand event.
Steeped in a rich past of Carnival, Old Town Bay St. Louis is a wonderful place to seek out vintage Mardi Gras Chickamachaw. Within its many antique shops you’re sure to find vintage glass beads, costumes, doubloons, and posters.
There are several publications that have taken notice of these pieces ranging from costume sketches, invitations, jewelry, and of course, the throws. One of the most notable series that encompasses a vast array of all things antique Mardi Gras is Mardi Gras Treasures. Their collection of books and notecards feature costume designs, jewelry, and invitations from “the golden age."
Antique Chickamachaw is truly magical to behold and certainly awakens a strong feeling of nostalgia. As we could not have possibly remembered such an age, it suffices our spirits to know that even through the great decomposition of time, not a laugh or moment of wonder was lost and every detail was executed with brilliant regard to the future.
contributed by Martha Whitney Butler
(You can pick up the book Mardi Gras Treasures or a box of notecards at Martha's shop The French Potager).
She parades herself down the streets flaunting the most colorful display of the area’s best and brightest, leaving a massive amount of shiny plastic carnage as a parting gift. We’d never cease to love this.
From the preparation to the grand finale, Mardi Gras has been known to leave us with a hefty amount of by-product, or Chickamachaw [chick-a-ma-chaw] - as I’ve heard it referred to by a most-respectable New Orleanian. Most of us either toss it out or generously donate it to unsuspecting tourists. But as you can imagine, there has been a trail of beautiful debris scattered along the Coast throughout the history of this grand event.
Steeped in a rich past of Carnival, Old Town Bay St. Louis is a wonderful place to seek out vintage Mardi Gras Chickamachaw. Within its many antique shops you’re sure to find vintage glass beads, costumes, doubloons, and posters.
There are several publications that have taken notice of these pieces ranging from costume sketches, invitations, jewelry, and of course, the throws. One of the most notable series that encompasses a vast array of all things antique Mardi Gras is Mardi Gras Treasures. Their collection of books and notecards feature costume designs, jewelry, and invitations from “the golden age."
Antique Chickamachaw is truly magical to behold and certainly awakens a strong feeling of nostalgia. As we could not have possibly remembered such an age, it suffices our spirits to know that even through the great decomposition of time, not a laugh or moment of wonder was lost and every detail was executed with brilliant regard to the future.
contributed by Martha Whitney Butler
(You can pick up the book Mardi Gras Treasures or a box of notecards at Martha's shop The French Potager).
