Antique carousel animals
are a unique part of American History. They are a very refined type of commercial
art, produced in the USA from the 1880s through the 1920s. Hand carved
from laminated pieces of wood, painted with both lead-based and japan paints,
leafed with metal leaf and decorated with faceted glass jewels and decorative
scrollwork, the animals beckoned to people to pay a nickel to ride on the
merry-go-round. More than 2,000 carousels were in operation in the golden age of
carousels; sadly, many were destroyed by fire, flood, or just sheer negligence. Today, many
animals from disbanded carousels are sold individually; they are considered
very desirable collectibles.
Restoration of a historic
object is not to be taken lightly; incorrect methods or materials
can decrease the value of a piece dramatically. Hawk's Eye Studio restores and
paints these animals with precision and historical accuracy. The following
photos illustrate some of the steps involved- and the finished piece.
Page 1: Daniel
Muller Indian Pony and Butting Goat
Page
2: Basket case Dentzel Restoration
Page 3: In
the studio with the artist
Page 4: Muller
Civil War Pony
Page 5: Dentzel
Menagerie Animals
Page 6: Marcus
Illions Horses
Page
7: Various Horses
Page
8: Muller Armored Horse
Page
9: Dentzel and Looff Tigers
Page
10: Custom New Wooden Animals
Page
11: Contact Us!
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All
photographs and text contained herein are copyrighted by the artist
and
may not be used for any purpose without expressed written consent.
Hawk's
Eye Studio
5990 N. Sundown Ln.
Kingman, AZ 86409
USA
Contact
Us via email