Mardi Gras Treasures Float Designs of the Golden Age

Hailed as 'a revolution in street pageantry, a revelation in special effects', the Mystik Crew of Comus in 1857 set the scope for the Carnival majesty that continues today with the first appearance of a rolling stage set, or float. The introduction of the float brought tremendous artistry to carnival revelry, but the artists and builders who created them have remained obscure or unknown, their body of work largely forgotten. Presented in this collection are dazzling examples of original float designs -- most of them reproduced here for the first time in this, the second in a four-volume series.

Henri Schindler, a New Orleans native, is the acclaimed designer of Mardi Gras parades and balls for some of the city's most eminent societies. He is highly regarded among Carnival historians for his knowledge of the festival's rich cultural legacy, and of its forgotten artists and builders.