Carousel horses – most of us will remember carousel horses from our childhood. I saw them at the Funfair down at The Level in Brighton, UK. We called them a ‘merry go round’. My Mum took us when we were children. We would go on the bus and eat candy floss (what Americans call cotton candy) and toffee apples (caramel covered apples). One of the clearest memories I have are the beautiful carousel horses and how big and beautiful they were. But it turns out they have an interesting history.
Do You Know The Interesting Story Behind Carousel Horses?
Don’t Drop The Ball
Who knew that carousels go back as far as the 12th Century and the ‘little war’ game? This was a type of training used in the Middle East. In some games, ‘riders’ would be suspended from chains and spun in circles as they tried to knock the hats off the people below. Bit of an ouch if they misjudge the height methinks. In one popular game, Riders would ride in circles and throw balls to one another, something requiring great skill. A form of cavalry training.
According to The History of Carousels, in some games the balls were actually glass balls full of perfume. If the ball broke the smell of perfume would point out the horseman with lesser skills.
Gradually this game was introduced to Europe.
Where Did The Name Carousel originate?
The game ‘little war’ or ‘little battle’ was named carousel. It was derived from the Italian garosello and Spanish carosella.
Fast Forward To The 17th Century
By the time we reach the 17th Century the carousel was now a real game of skill. Horse riders had to spear small rings that were hanging suspended from posts overhead. This was a very popular game which actually largely replaced jousting. Called the ‘ring tilt’ it was particularly popular in Italy and France.
The game spread to commoners who enjoyed playing it for fun. Around this time, according to Wikipedia, an early make believe carousel for children with wooden carousel horses was erected. This was in Paris at the Place du Carrousel.
The Development Of Carousel Horses
Carousels became popular in the 18th Century though they were rather different to what we know today. The wooden animals hung from chains which would of course ‘fly’ when the carousel spun. The carousel at that time was powered either by animals or by people manually.
In the mid 19th Century, wooden animals and vehicles such as chariots were fixed to a circular floor – these were called ‘dobbies’ and were still operated manually.
Then in 1861 Thomas Bradshaw invented the first steam-powered mechanical carousel and they never looked back. It allowed the carousels to become elaborate pieces of machinery. Gradually they acquired roofs and fixed floors.
Sometime after 1870, an English engineer called Frederick Savage developed the mechanism to have the horses rise and fall in a galloping motion. He called them ‘platform gallopers’.
Carousel Horses As Art
The original carousel horses were wooden of course, carved over the winter months by the families that toured with their carousels during the finer weather. By the 18th Century, companies of carvers, painters and machinists were involved in creating the horses. Master carvers worked on the heads and detailed areas, apprentices glued bits together, carved the bodies and learnt their craft.
The pioneer of the carousel in America in the 1870s was Gustav Dentzel a German immigrant. Dentzel was a cabinetmaker who came to America when he was 20 years old. His father had carved for carousels and Dentzel brought that knowledge with him. He took great pride in ensuring his carousel horses were anatomically correct. Several of the carvers employed by Dentzel became famous in their own right. You can read a lot more about all this at The International Independent Showman’s Museum website.
Some Interesting Facts
- The Flying Horses Carousel in Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts is America’s oldest platform carousel. It has been designated a national landmark.
- The oldest galloping carousel in the world was built in 1885 in Bressoux by Belgian craftsmen. In 1926 it moved to New York for the Word Fair, and then went to La Ronde in Montreal. In 2003 it underwent a major refurbishment.
- A very rare Edwardian carousel can be found in Sydney which has been designated a New South Wales Heritage Listed attraction. It was first brought to Australia in 1894.
- A travelling fair run by Robert Tidman & Sons of Norwich, UK, operates a ride known as ‘Steam Gallopers’. It dates back to 1895 and is still run on steam.
Buy Prints
All three of my images used to illustrate this blog and several other images of carousels are available to purchase as fine art prints from Art Heroes (Europe), Pictorem (USA and Canada) and RedBubble (worldwide).
Before you go
My name is Dorothy Berry-Lound an artist and writer. You can find out more about my art and writing at https://dorothyberryloundart.com.
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Thank you for reading!
Interesting, I had no idea where they came from. We called them merry go rounds also. I’ve seen original Horses and such from these go for big bucks. Nice post
Thanks Bill. I was amazed at the depth of work that went into some of the carving and decoration, it was interesting to research the history.
I must say, this is something I haven’t given any thought to at all. But very interesting. Thank you for sharing. I learned something new today.
I had never thought about it either LOL. But having taken the photographs I looked into it and got hooked on the history.