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The Carousel Animal
Here is the magic and charm of the carousel animal. These beautifully crafted creatures were very much alive for the delight of children over many decades. A few are still found on operating carousels, but most have become cherished art, now restored as a reminder of the golden age of the carousel. Here is the story of the world's famous carvers and a show of their finest work. This treat will bring back the joy of the carousel ride, on top of a charging steed, whirling toward the brass ring.
- GenresArtNonfiction
Hardcover
First published June 1, 1983
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 21, 2020
One of my most favorite carnival and amusement park rides has always been the slower moving carousel. The creatures have always captured my imagination, especially those of hippocampus, which at that particular young age I didn't even know the name of nor that it was an actual imagined fantastical creature. And now many decades have passed since I have allowed my mind to be bewitched by the horses and animals but even now I find myself feeling happy that I am not the only one who has been touched by the carousel and its magnificent trappings.
In Carousel Animals: Artistry in Motion, the reader is introduced to the immigrant side of carousels and the men whose lives in the United States were dedicated to producing such beautiful yet underappreciated artwork. It explores the different types of animals produced by the greatest master carvers of carousels but besides quick glimpses into the different horses and the menagerie it doesn't give to the reader much else about the actual ride.
The Carousel Animal does a bit more of a dive into the actual machine and gives a deeper history of the carousel as well as explores more different menagerie shapes. Furthermore it also explores the different companies in much more depth such as C. W. Parker, Herschell-Spillman, PTC, Stein & Goldstein, etc. As a result for those who are into carousels (even though the books do tend to overlap a bit) I would suggest both for a more rounded read.
In this particular book the writing is very simple and once you get past the extensive introduction of the history of the carousel the book falls into a picture book format. There are four main sections with one dedicated to the horses, one to menagerie animals, one to European steeds and menagerie and finally one to the round boards as well as other decor used to cover up the machinery. Within these sections there is a bold title of the person whose creature it was such Parker or Muller followed by a quick paragraph of information. This is then followed up by trivia including the last time it was known to be ridden, who owns it now or if it is still running, who renovated it or which paint style is on it and size specifications.
All the pictures are colored photographs with some conflict of background color, especially in the case where a horse may have a dark tail that blends in with the black background. Otherwise there are also a few inserts that allow the reader to be able to look closer as some important detail found on that particular carving. Such beauty recaptured although I have to say I am not happy with those collectors who like the stripped look since you can barely see the details of the animals themselves.
This was definitely worth the read and one that has helped me to expand my knowledge about carousels. As such for those who enjoy this old ride I would most definitely recommend it or even for those who like weird forms of art that others may seem to overlook since it isn't sophisticated art.
In Carousel Animals: Artistry in Motion, the reader is introduced to the immigrant side of carousels and the men whose lives in the United States were dedicated to producing such beautiful yet underappreciated artwork. It explores the different types of animals produced by the greatest master carvers of carousels but besides quick glimpses into the different horses and the menagerie it doesn't give to the reader much else about the actual ride.
The Carousel Animal does a bit more of a dive into the actual machine and gives a deeper history of the carousel as well as explores more different menagerie shapes. Furthermore it also explores the different companies in much more depth such as C. W. Parker, Herschell-Spillman, PTC, Stein & Goldstein, etc. As a result for those who are into carousels (even though the books do tend to overlap a bit) I would suggest both for a more rounded read.
In this particular book the writing is very simple and once you get past the extensive introduction of the history of the carousel the book falls into a picture book format. There are four main sections with one dedicated to the horses, one to menagerie animals, one to European steeds and menagerie and finally one to the round boards as well as other decor used to cover up the machinery. Within these sections there is a bold title of the person whose creature it was such Parker or Muller followed by a quick paragraph of information. This is then followed up by trivia including the last time it was known to be ridden, who owns it now or if it is still running, who renovated it or which paint style is on it and size specifications.
All the pictures are colored photographs with some conflict of background color, especially in the case where a horse may have a dark tail that blends in with the black background. Otherwise there are also a few inserts that allow the reader to be able to look closer as some important detail found on that particular carving. Such beauty recaptured although I have to say I am not happy with those collectors who like the stripped look since you can barely see the details of the animals themselves.
This was definitely worth the read and one that has helped me to expand my knowledge about carousels. As such for those who enjoy this old ride I would most definitely recommend it or even for those who like weird forms of art that others may seem to overlook since it isn't sophisticated art.
September 10, 2024
I love carousel horses and other animals, and this is a gorgeous coffee table book showcasing closeup photographs of a large collection of them, along with the history of various carousel carvers and companies that manufactured them in their heyday. A quick read but the photos invite you to linger and pore over the details.
May 18, 2022
Beautifully illustrated; informative narration and glossary
March 10, 2013
Beautiful pictures of carousels and information about them and the companies who made them. If you like this book, you will also like the book "Art of the Carousel" by Charlotte Dinger.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews