Reflections of the South
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Reflections of the South |
This essay companying the African American Doll, The Praline Seller contains a praline recipe that will surely please the palate. This African American Doll was inspired by George Francois Mugnier's photo dated 1895.. Read about the New Orleans Vendors of the 1800's, who grace the streets of the Vieux Carre' with their warmth, charm and their delicious delicacies.
Inspired by George Francois Mugnier's Photograph, dated 1895
written by JoAnn Bernard
In the days of old on the street corners of the Vieux Carre' sat the Praline Seller. Her voice echoed through the French Quarter. "Pralines for Sales, Pralines for Sale, sweet delicious Pralines." Pralines are a tasty mixture of sugar, milk, butter, and pecans. "Praline" is a French word originally meaning sugar coated nuts. In the seventeen hundreds in France the sugar confection was placed over almonds to reduce indigestion. Once the delicacy reached New Orleans the almonds were quickly replaced with pecans and the Creole women added their own home grown Louisiana cane sugar and flavor to duplicate the delicious confection, hence the New Orleans Pecan Praline.
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
˝ cup light cream
2 tbsps butter
1 cup pecans
Dissolve sugars in cream and boil to 228 degrees Fahrenheit stirring occasionally. Add butter and pecans. Cook until syrup reaches a soft ball (236) degrees Fahrenheit) temperature. Cool, then beat until thickened, but not until it loses its gloss. Drop by tablespoon onto a greased pan or a double thickness of waxed paper.
JoAnn Bernard is a self-taught artist. Born JoAnn Gonzales on the bayou of Delacroix Island, Louisiana, with an Islenos heritage that stems back to Spain's Canary Islands. Her love of the beautiful State of Louisiana has inspired the Days of Old Collection, a line of Louisiana heritage character dolls. Through research, she has reproduced Louisiana ancestry; African American, Cajun, Islenos and others in life-like forms as they were seen years ago. JoAnn has created a complete original collection. She sculpts the original pieces and reproduces them in plaster molds. The face of each character is hand-painted, dressed (clothing and jewelry may vary) and positioned on handcrafted wooden pedestals and chairs to recreate photographs and sketches of the 1800's. The body designs are unique in construction and design. All wigs are hand-made by the artist using mohair strands. The artist developed original clothing designs and patterns. Props were designed and created for each individual character doll. All clay pieces are limited editions of 500 and are numbered and signed by the artist. Booklets and display cards are also designed by Jo Ann to include the number of the piece and a short story about the character doll. Booklets are attached to the piece, and the display card can be framed to stand along side the piece. Character dolls range in height from 16 to 18 inches tall. Total height of the piece may vary depending upon position of character dolls. A numbered and signed Certificate of Authenticity is provided with each character doll.
ŠJo Ann Bernard
Attached booklets contain above information
   
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Learn about Louisiana Culture through this African American Heritage Doll collection inspired by sketches, photographs and stories of the 1800's.
Display card and Booklets printed on aged parchment paper
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For more information email: jo_ann_bernard@southernelegance.net
Display card printed on aged parchment paper
