Description

PRICED TO SELL – SOLD

This late 1800s Looff would originally have been a prancer (a stationary horse with rear legs on the ground) before the arrival of the overhead jumping mechanism. With the rise in popularity of the jumping horses on carousels, many figures were returned to the factory and converted to “jumpers” in the early 1900s. This figure looks to have M. C. Illions carved rear legs added when it was converted to a jumping horse. Looff was originally located in Coney Island as was Illions. Marcus Illions worked at a freelance carver for Charles Looff in the late 1800s and early 1900s before forming his own carousel company from which he carved some of the finest carousels ever made.