Description

ALLAN HERSCHELL ANTIQUE INDIAN BLANKET JUMPING PONY CAROUSEL HORSE – CIRCA 1920s

From the owners:
“As the book “Painted Ponies” so aptly puts, “Of the thousands of wooden horses that once thundered across the land, very few remain.” Here is your chance to own this beauty along with its custom-made brass pole/stand. Will also include the tremendously informational book “Painted Ponies” (the picture like this horse came from that). We have had this beauty for over 30 years. Retired and downsized so have to let her go. We don’t know if the paint is original, however, there are no layers of paint as you can see from the worn front legs…right down to the wood…. just the wood, primer, then paint. The hooves look over painted, though. There is also some what appears to be varnish drippings on the saddle…apparently the park owner’s way of trying to protect the paint, but not very careful in applying the varnish. Because pieces like this are more valuable in as original condition as possible, we’ve left that alone. It is believed she came from one of the Herschell traveling carousels. In researching, that is because of the blanket instead of a horned saddle (less likelihood of breakage). Also, there are 3 XXX marks on the bottom. We were told that was probably their way of marking where the horse would go on the carousel each time it was set up. This is one of the last horses to be made totally of wood. In latter part of 20’s and into 30’s, they resorted to making legs and tails from aluminum. The pole we had custom made. The pole itself is brass with a gorgeous antique finial top. The base is heavy cast iron.”