TYPES of CAROUSEL and ROCKING HORSES...just a little more help for those of you really interested in Carouse Horses...we have been restoring and painting them for 20 years. Let's try and dispell a few more myths....and teach you the Lingo!

.......Antique Carousel Horse, these are all wood, hollow bodies (coffin box construction) All after 1885 were blocked out by machine then the details were hand carved in the factories. They were made prior to 1940, most collectable ones are from between 1885- 1930's, but they were made as far back as the mid 1500's. Carved in both Europe and here (will go into detail later)

........Half & Half's or Jug Heads, only made by the Allen Herschell Company about 1925-1937. The bodies were all wood and any or all of the following parts were made of molded Aluminum, Head Legs, & or Tail.

.......Aluminum Carousel Horses, originally earliest late 1940's or later, from the Allen Herschell or Parker Company....these have been copied and reproduced many time over and imported from Mexico...some reproductions had Coca Cola Bases.

........Contemporary Carving, these are newly carved animals, by machine or hand since 1940. There are several catagories, fine individual, one of a kind . There are also mass produced fine carvings, and the very rough copies that are imported from Indonesia and Spain, many unscrupulus dealers are passing these off as antiques. Most of both are copies of the Antique Horses.

.......Reproductions or replicas are molded pieces in several different materials, fiberglass, plastic, resin, sawdust & resin etc. these are made from molds, many off the original Antiques, a good decorating choice for a fraction of the price, and just love the look.

STYLES of CAROUSEL HORSES:

There are only 3 Styles of Carousel Horses and animals and they ALL fall into one of these , it describes the position of the animal,

........STANDER this is any body that is standing up on its own , with 3 or 4 legs flat ( or almost on the ground) may look like he is standing still, walking , or trotting .

.........JUMPER,,this is any animal with all 4 feet in the air. He may be running, jumping, trotting, pacing, or leaping but he is suspended in the air on the pole, his feet should not be touching the ground.

.........PRANCER this animal the Front two legs are in the air, the back two legs are flat on the ground, he may be prancing or striking, or pouncing.

The next 3 are an easy catagory, Either Horse, Menagerie Animal, Farm Animal, or Fantasy creature. These all are either Standers, Prancers, or Jumpers.

Original Paint is the very First coat of paint put on by artists at the Factory. It is hard to find this left on many horses. Most valuable

Park Paint is the many layers of paint put on usually by unskilled painters, at the park or on the road...no, or little value.

Carousel Horses were carved at carving, manufacturing companies, many men working on parts of the same horse, in a mass production style. The details, such as the head, mane, secondary carvings were done by the best carvers in the shop..the Head or master carver. They were NEVER carved one man, one at a time.

Each Company had their own style, and catered to different clients, large fancy Stationary machines, or the Traveling, lighter and smaller,fairground machines. Thus different horses.

If you want to learn more there are many good resource books out there now...Read, Read, Read!