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Art of the Carousel
Accompanied by over 400 color photographs, a guide to the art of the carousel, or merry-go-round, traces its development by describing style variations and identifiable features of carousel animals.
- GenresArt
223 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 1984
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 6, 2013
The two most important books for carousel carving enthusiasts are William Manns’
Painted Ponies
and Charlotte Dinger’s
The Art of the Carousel.
Along with Tobin Fraley’s
The Carousel Animal,
they form the foundation of any reference library on this most interesting and historical subject. Omitting even one of the three would weaken that foundation, since each makes a substantial and unique contribution.
Although Manns and Dinger both cover much of the same material in a similar way – history, style, and primary artists – and both feature hundreds of stunning and beautiful photographs, The Art of the Carousel distinguishes itself by its inclusion of so many of the less common menagerie figures, from frogs and chickens to storks and sea monsters.
It distinguishes itself even further in its discussion of restoration processes and techniques. This is a major boon for restorers in general and woodcarvers in particular, since there are so many clear and detailed photographs of stripped and sanded pieces from Ms. Dinger’s extensive collection. It makes it very easy to focus on the carving itself, and not on the colorful and exquisite painting. That aspect alone makes The Art of the Carousel a “must have” for woodcarvers.
The step-by-step presentation of the restoration process is invaluable to collectors, even those who aren’t up to the highly skilled task of restoring the pieces themselves. It pays to understand the procedure, and Charlotte Dinger definitely knows her subject. It is obvious on every page.
There is a mine of practical information, from creating a workable display stand, to constructing a safe transport crate, and even tips for purchasing insurance before and after shipment. The Art of the Carousel is more than a mere collection of pretty pictures, but make no mistake, they are absolutely beautiful.
Like the carousel figures she clearly loves, Charlotte Dinger’s work is an asset to anyone’s personal collection.
Although Manns and Dinger both cover much of the same material in a similar way – history, style, and primary artists – and both feature hundreds of stunning and beautiful photographs, The Art of the Carousel distinguishes itself by its inclusion of so many of the less common menagerie figures, from frogs and chickens to storks and sea monsters.
It distinguishes itself even further in its discussion of restoration processes and techniques. This is a major boon for restorers in general and woodcarvers in particular, since there are so many clear and detailed photographs of stripped and sanded pieces from Ms. Dinger’s extensive collection. It makes it very easy to focus on the carving itself, and not on the colorful and exquisite painting. That aspect alone makes The Art of the Carousel a “must have” for woodcarvers.
The step-by-step presentation of the restoration process is invaluable to collectors, even those who aren’t up to the highly skilled task of restoring the pieces themselves. It pays to understand the procedure, and Charlotte Dinger definitely knows her subject. It is obvious on every page.
There is a mine of practical information, from creating a workable display stand, to constructing a safe transport crate, and even tips for purchasing insurance before and after shipment. The Art of the Carousel is more than a mere collection of pretty pictures, but make no mistake, they are absolutely beautiful.
Like the carousel figures she clearly loves, Charlotte Dinger’s work is an asset to anyone’s personal collection.
March 10, 2013
If you collect carousel horses, then you should pick up this book. It has alot of information about carousels and wonderful colored photos. If you like this book, you should also check out the book "The Carousel Animal" by Tobin Fraley.
March 25, 2011
FANTASTIC, but no mention of San Francisco
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews