The New Orleans district of Storyville is celebrated as the birthplace of jazz. Although only three buildings survive from the original Storyville, the neighbouring French Quarter retains much of its antique charm, although its architecture is in fact more Spanish than French.
The city’s French associations are renowned, but its connections to Spain are less well known. The city belonged to the Spanish Empire from 1762 to 1801, and was then handed back to the French, who sold it to the USA a few years later.
From 1959 to 1961, 126 ceramic tile signs were installed, mainly in the French Quarter, indicating the former Spanish street names in the city. For example, the tiles at Toulouse Street bear the inscription:
“When New Orleans was the capital of the Spanish Province of Luisiana, this street bore the name Calle de Tolosa”.
The custom ceramic signage was produced in Talavera de la Reina in 1959, and paid for by the Spanish government. These famous signs are very much a part of the old town’s charm, but in recent years many of them have become cracked or damaged and are in need of restoration or replacement.
Spanish ambassador to the U.S., Ángeles Moreno Bau, has commissioned Spanish ceramic tile manufacturer, ADEX, to make replacement tiles. Owners of buildings in the old town that have tiles that need to be replaced must apply via the city authorities by May 9, 2025.
At Digital Ceramics Custom Tiles, we design and produce tiles suited to a variety of purposes, including indoor and outdoor signage. Contact us today and let’s discuss how ceramic tile signage could make a real impact on your design project.
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