Cast Iron Balcony Railing c. 1936

Thomas Byrne made this drawing of a cast iron balcony railing sometime between 1855 and 1995. It's a precise rendering, probably intended for architectural or manufacturing purposes. Cast ironwork became popular in the 19th century, thanks to industrial advances that made it cheaper and easier to produce than wrought iron. This design suggests the Greek Revival style with its geometric fretwork. We might think about how classical forms were adopted in 19th-century architecture to convey ideals of democracy and civic virtue. The drawing prompts us to consider the social role of architecture. Who was able to afford such detailing on their homes? Who was employed in the production of this type of architectural feature? Historians often use design catalogs, census records, and trade publications to reconstruct the world in which such objects were made and used. As we look at this drawing, we can reflect on how architecture, seemingly fixed and permanent, is always an expression of a particular social and economic context.