Vintage carousel horses often sell for thousands of dollars. These beautiful creations big and small are wonderful additions to any collection. Collectors will pay almost any price for the real hand-carved horses once displayed on the carousels of yesteryear. Thanks to the miracle of modern technology, casts of these works of art have been produced. Large carousel horses have been recreated from these molds. In this article, I’ll show you where to buy them and walk you through the process.
Anyone reasonably talented with a paintbrush can create an antique reproduction of a carousel horse. Unpainted or unfinished carousel horse molds can be purchased ready to paint. These molded horses are made from high-density polyethylene that is strong and very forgiving of the finisher. The artist can choose between buying a horse with seams to be sanded at a reduced price or choosing a ready-to-paint surface.
It’s time to create an antique reproduction. Choose the size you want. Full size, half size or small horses. Full-size horses with a total height of 65 inches are a very large project. I have seen Elegant Standers and Royal Standers that really do look like the horses we would all ride or stand next to. Medium sized unfinished carousel horses are probably the most popular for artists and hobbyists. This size fits very well in baby and girl rooms. Most of the horses that I have seen available come complete with the brass post that runs through the horse.
We’ll paint! There are many ways to finish a carousel horse. Most people like the traditional painted horse that recreates the memory of the Carousel. Some artists can locate images of real horses where they are riding carousels. Right down to the color of the tail, you can follow the image to recreate that special horse. Some painters like to reproduce the effect of the carved wooden horse. There are special paints and techniques available to mimic a real wood surface. One of the last steps is to choose a clear coat to provide a transparent layer around the painted finish. Some artists have chosen to go a step further and add multiple layers of glitter creating an almost deep glass effect. Small images and material can be added under the glitter to get the desired look.
Creating your own carousel horse is a very rewarding project. Reproductions have sold for hundreds, even thousands of dollars. I know of at least two small businesses that have been created by finishing and selling these horses.