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Double Parlors
The double parlors are the most elegant of the rooms in the house and were used by the family for recreation and entertaining.
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Many Victorian rooms appear crowded and over-furnished to us, and the abundance of colors and patterns heightens this effect. Mid-19th century taste demanded covered surfaces; bright, clear colors; and floral or naturalistic patterns. The parlor furniture is of the same period as the house, but it did not belong to the Gallier family. A detailed inventory was taken when James Gallier died in 1868. Furnishings were selected on the basis of this document with particular attention being given to the purchase of locally made and/or used pieces.
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The design of the Gallier House cornices is unusual. Many 19thcentury cornices were made of stock elements, and one can see the same or similar cornices in numerous buildings. This cornice, however, is unique in its use of animalistic motifs and may have been especially designed by James Gallier Jr. for this room.
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The front parlor functioned as a formal living space – a place for entertaining visitors. Its modern equivalent would be the living room.
The small half-sofa in the front parlor is called a meridienne. These were designed to allow ladies in hoop skirts to sit comfortably and gracefully.
Meridienne; c. 1860; American;
made by John Henry Belter.
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Aglae Gallier (1834–1906)
was the mother of four daughters:
Elizabeth Leonie (1853-1924), Josephine Blanche (1856-1933), Françoise Josephine (1858-1909), and Jeanne Clemence (1860-1941).
As a widow with four young daughters, she was able to keep her family together in their home through difficult financial times.
Portrait; Josephine Aglae Villavaso Gallier; 1869; by Francois Bernard. |
Back Parlor details
The back parlor functioned as a gathering place and entertainment space for the family. Its modern equivalent would be the den or family room. Cards, dominoes, chess, checkers, and other games were popular, as were conversation, musical presentations, charades, and word games. For example, the Gallier family participated in musicales, i.e., musical skits in the home. |
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This table is a “convertible chair,” which can function as a table alone or a desk and chair combination. The hinged top folds back to reveal a seat on one side.
The base swings back so that a person could sit in the seat and write on the leather-covered top. This clever desk/table/chair combination is typically
Victorian.
Hedges Desk; 1854; American;
made in New York; by Stephen Hedges. |
James Gallier Jr. (1827-1868) was a successful architect in New Orleans during the 1850s and 1860s. The French Opera House (constructed 1859; burned 1919), which stood at the corner of Bourbon and Toulouse Streets, was probably his best-known work during his lifetime.
Portrait; James Gallier Jr.; 1868; by Francois Bernard.
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