Painted Cardboard Carousel Swan, Circa 1900
Details and Characteristics of the Piece
- Material and Construction: Boiled cardboard (or reinforced papier-mâché) was the material of choice for carnival artisans when creating medium- to large-sized carousel figures. It offered the advantage of being much lighter than carved wood while allowing for highly detailed modeling of feathers and shapes, reinforced here by a wooden frame and a base made of raw wood.
- Internal structure: The underside reveals pairs of wooden struts and shelves. This sturdy framework served to stiffen the base to safely support a child’s weight and to secure the figure to the carousel’s platform or articulated arm.
- Function: The central opening, painted blue, serves as a small cradle or seat in which a young child can be seated.
- Aesthetic condition: The head displays the typical features of carousel mute swans (orange/brownish beak with a black wattle). The paint has clearly been touched up or refreshed over time (which is common for carnival attractions that have seen many years of use), but the piece as a whole retains a superb period patina.
- Dimensions: 90 x 90 x 50 cm
- Good condition for its age
950 €
Period: 20th century
Style: Napoleon 3rd
Condition: Good condition
Material: Cardboard
Reference (ID): 1830170
Availability: In stock
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