Mansard Monday ~ Second Empire style “Glen Auburn” in Natchez, MS.
Glen Auburn, built as the residence of Christian Schwartz in 1875, is considered the finest example of Second Empire style architecture in the state of Mississippi.
The Mansard roof form that turns an Italianate style house into a Second Empire style house comes from France and was typically called a “French roof” during the 19th century – when all things Parisian were in vogue (including the language).
This example has a concave curve to the Mansard form, but the roof can also be found with a straight slope, convex curve, or combined concave and convex curves for an S-shaped roof slope. Too much was never enough for some Victorians!
Understanding the style of a house will help you know which features are character-defining so you can prioritize their preservation.
Second Empire is one of 25 historic architectural styles described and illustrated in Chapter 2 of “Restoring Your Historic House, The Comprehensive Guide for Homeowners.”
Signed and personalized copies of the award-winning and bestselling 720-page hardcover book are available from the author in our shop, YourHistoricHouse.com/shop/.
Want to learn more about historic house styles? “A Field Guide to American Houses” by Virginia McAlester is also available in our shop. Save on cost and shipping with our multi-book combo packs!
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