1955 some are by the Shiny Brite Company, the most popular mid-century manufacturer of American ornaments. The blown glass balls are all American made, probably ca. The glass pinecones decorated with silver nitrate and glitter (my favorite of the ornaments) were manufactured in Czechoslovakia and Germany, where production of lustrous Christmas ornaments began by the turn of the 20th century. The ornaments provide evidence of global trends in mass production and consumerism in the mid-20th century. Besides these traditional ornament shapes, there are also a variety of decorative birds, some made of glass or ceramic, and others made of paper and feathers. There are yellow and white thread-wrapped balls silver nitrate globes silver, red, and white glass pinecones and puffs of tinsel, all of which appear in the Williamses’ Christmas photos. Their choice of ornaments tells us about their personal taste, as well as the prevailing styles of the 1940s, 50s, and 60s. What’s in an ornament?Īmerican Shiny Brite ornaments, Japanese balls covered with gimp and pins, and Bohemian pinecones all coexist on the Williamses’ tree.Īs a material culture scholar, the best resources I have to interpret the Williamses’ Christmas traditions are the family’s ornaments themselves. As with any exhibition, installing (decorating) the Williamses’ Christmas tree requires object care and handling, teamwork from several museum departments, and research. Further continuing the Williamses’ tradition, the same ornaments that hung on their tree over half a century ago continue to decorate the tree today, making the live tree not only a piece of holiday cheer but also an exhibition installation. Today, the 9-foot Fraser fir sits in the corner of the living room, to the left of the couch, just as it appears in the photographs from the Williamses’ Christmas parties. I use the vintage photos to position the tree in the exact same place as it was when the Williamses inhabited the residence, judging by the placement of their furniture and the adjacent walls. The Williamses hired a professional photographer to document their annual Christmas gathering, leaving us a fantastic record of their home furnishings and entertaining style. Each year on Christmas Eve, they hosted a large party for family and friends, with gifts for children, drinks for adults, and family photographs. Although they had a summer house in Santa Barbara, California, a cottage in Patterson, LA, and the option to travel wherever they wanted, they spent their Christmases in New Orleans. Kemper and Leila Williams made the French Quarter their home from 1946 to 1964. Leila Williams is on the right with her great-nephew “hamming” it up.ĭecorating the tree in the Williams Residence is a little different because it is part of the interpretation of the historic house museum. These personal photographs offer details of the Williamses’ Christmases. The Williams Residence: More than a Christmas Tree Bolstered by cookies and punch, and overseen by Louisiana portraits, the large tree is fully decorated within two hours. (Yes, anyone can put lights on a Christmas tree, but our tech team does it with special flair!) We follow a decorating theme of blue and gold ornaments, to match the neoclassical carpet in the Counting House. Led by Director of Development and Community Relations Jack Pruitt, the decorating team includes members from the development, museum programs, photography, administration, and technology departments. The Counting House team decorates the stately tree in the neoclassical banking hall-turned portrait gallery. The day after, Joey Landry of Arbor House Floral arrives to swag balconies and stair railings with greenery and top it all off with beautiful wreaths on the light posts in each courtyard. It’s Christmas Tree Day! We receive and decorate two large, live trees: a 9-foot tree for the Williams Residence living room-the home of our founders-and a 14-foot tree for the Counting House. Decorative Arts Curator Lydia Blackmore explains THNOC's holiday decorating traditions.Įvery year, on the first Monday after Thanksgiving, we transform THNOC’s Royal Street campus from a semitropical oasis of art and history to a semitropical winter wonderland.
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