Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 21

1940s/1950s Carnival Ride Panel - Monumental Hand Painted Metal Carousel Salvage

$6,500
£4,971.36
€5,689.23
CA$9,251.28
A$10,016.44
CHF 5,325.28
MX$120,805.23
NOK 66,968.43
SEK 62,433.65
DKK 42,491.33

About the Item

A rare, whimsical, and most impressive monumental scale midcentury American traveling carnival hand painted metal ride panel! United States, circa 1940s/1950s, almost certainly from an early "sleigh-car" style carousel. This large, nearly 9' x 6.5' panel would have been part of the ride, located in the center of the carousel, it was used as a fun decorative artwork that also concealed the mechanical components and custom trailer designed to transport the ride. Featuring hand painted polychrome decoration, with sculptural two-sided horse figure, landscape scene, and peacock, swan or duck and elephant menagerie animals. Imagine the places it's visited! The wheel well cutouts and chains add a touch of historical interest, character and charm as they indicate its from an iconic traveling carnival. Unlike permanent amusement parks, these colorful touring carnival rides were designed to be quickly set up and taken down, usually the entire carnival, rides, games, and vendors, could be broken down overnight and transported across the country to various state and county fairs, circus, bazaar, and various other entertainment shows! - Dimensions: (approx) 107" Long x 74.25" Tall x 4" Wide - Provenance / Acquisition: Acquired from the highly reputable auction house Bright Star Antiques Co., Sulphur Springs, Texas. August 2025 auction catalog, lot #4789 An incredible one-of-a-kind piece that appeals to multiple collectors, including early Americana, industrial, mid-century modern, and of course carnival folk art. It's bright, fun, playful and whimsy, sure to make for a fabulous statement piece, kids room decoration, accent wall hanging, restaurant sign, outdoor statue and more! - Condition: Good antique / vintage condition. Desirable unrestored original example. Authentic beautifully aged distressed weathered patina over the whole, with chic chippy paint losses, scuffing, scratches, abrasions, accretions, patinated metalwork, oxidation, tarnish, rustic finish, etc.. All expected wear and tear commensurate with age and indicative of industrial use, handling, and exposure. Excellent presentation. Strong, sturdy, stable, structurally sound.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 74.25 in (188.6 cm)Width: 107 in (271.78 cm)Depth: 4 in (10.16 cm)
  • Style:
    Folk Art (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    circa 1940s/1950s
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses. Minor fading. Good original unrestored vintage condition. Authentic beautifully aged distressed patina, w/chippy paint losses, scuffing, scratches, abrasions, accretions, patination, oxidation, wear commensurate w/age use. Presents well. Strong, sturdy, stable.
  • Seller Location:
    Forney, TX
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU5977246834842

More From This Seller

View All
Antique American Carousel Horse Carnival Ride Attrib Charles Dare
Located in Forney, TX
A charming antique, circa 1920, American track machine carousel horse amusement ride attributed to legendary carver Charles W. Dare Company (United States), now mounted on a custom r...
Category

Early 20th Century American Folk Art Carnival Art

Materials

Wood, Paint

Rare Early Childrens Carousel Ride Bird Figure Antique Carnival Folk Art
Located in Forney, TX
Acquired from the nationally known Fort Worth Museum of Science & History (originally opened in 1945 as the Fort Worth Children's Museum), this remarkable very early carousel ride is the last we have available from the original menagerie group we aquired (the stag deer, parrot, and fox rides from the same carousel already sold) Lynx Hollow Antiques is proud to present this scarce one-of-a-kind antique European early dobby platform flat...
Category

Antique 19th Century Dutch Folk Art Carnival Art

Materials

Iron

Antique French Limonaire Frères Signed Carved Painted Wood Carousel Donkey Ride
Located in Forney, TX
A rare, important and most charming French carousel amusement ride by important Parisian craftsmen Limonaire Frères / Limonaire Brothers (France; 1839-1932) Hand-crafted in Paris, France in the late 19th century, exceptionally executed near life-size form depicting a standing donkey figure with the rare unique feature of a nodding head. Finished in country fair taste, hand-carved solid wood construction, the menagerie merry-go-round ride presents splendidly, with the original layered polychrome paint finish, enhanced by beautifully aged heavily worn patina acquired over many years of carnival use. Signed, retaining the original manufacturer's brass plaque that reads: "Sculptures Pour Forains, Chevaux De Bois Etc, Limonaire Freres, Paris, 166 Avenue Daumesnil" The extremely rare, museum quality example is one of the very few surviving Limonaire Frères wooden carousel fixtures, one of only a handful imported to the United States, and quite possibly the last surviving donkey! DIMENSIONS: (approx) 44" High, 52" Wide, 10" Deep PROVENANCE / ACQUISITION: Acquired from the highly reputable auction house, Schultz Auctioneers, Clarence, New York. Important Antiques & Decorative Arts catalog HISTORY: Limonaire Frères were an amusement ride and later street organ...
Category

Antique 19th Century French Folk Art Carnival Art

Materials

Wood, Paint

19th Century German Carved Polychrome Carousel Horse by P. Schneider
Located in Forney, TX
A rare antique, circa 1890s, German hand carved and painted wood carousel horse carnival fair ride by Peter Schneider (famous for making the first double decker carousel in 1898). ...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century German Folk Art Statues

Materials

Wood

19th Century Hindu Nandi Temple Guardian, Architectural Ornament
Located in Forney, TX
A monumental Hindu Nandi temple gate-guardian architectural ornament, born in India, dating to the 19th century, hand carved and painted, richly detailed, polychrome decorated, the wooden sculpture depicting Nandi, a sacred bull, gatekeeper, and vahana religious deity figure. Provenance: Acquired from The Neiman Marcus Corporate Art Collection. Details below. Dimensions: (approx) 49.5" x 43" x 12" An important religious folk art work, the Nandi is of carved wood and gessoed cloth, then hand-painted. In Hindu religion, Nandi is the mythical mount of Shiva. The four legs represent truth, righteousness, peace and love. More than a means of conveyance, Nandi is considered Shiva's constant companion on all his travels, so much so that in any temple dedicated to Shiva, there is a sculpture of Nandi. This symbol is a deity in its own right, and in India there are temples dedicated exclusively to Nandi. In Hindu symbolism, the bull represents both strength and ignorance. The white or light color of the bull symbolizes purity and justice. Symbolically, the seated Nandi towards sanctum in Shiva temples, represents an individual jiva (soul) and the message that the jiva should always be focused on the Parameshwara. From the yogic perspective, Nandi is the mind dedicated to Shiva, the absolute. In other words, to understand and absorb light, the experience, and the wisdom is Nandi, which is the guru within. The fact that Shiva uses it as a mount symbolizes how this divine figure removes ignorance while instilling strength and wisdom. A superb example, the life size work is in great overall shape, and presents wonderfully, having beautifully aged patina over the whole, highly desirable original, worn, rustic, naturally distressed, chippy paint, craquelure finish, that's delicate, and enhances the artistic antique character and rich historic depth. Detailed Condition Report: Fragile / delicate by design. Loss to one ear, age related checking and separation to carvings, fabric to hind quarters is released and tattered with minor loss, rubbing to paint throughout with wear indicative of age and use; later grey painted mounting blocks are attached to back and hooves. White glove in-home shipping/delivery available. Pickup available near Dallas, Texas Additional Provenance: Property from the Neiman Marcus Collection. Acquired from Heritage Auction, Design District Gallery, Dallas, Texas. From The Dallas Morning Newspaper; April 12th, 2021 Neiman Marcus is selling some of its history and valuables that have been displayed and stored for decades as part of the luxury retailer’s corporate art collection. The Neiman Marcus corporate art collection dates back to 1951, when Stanley Marcus (1905-2002), a life long avid art collector, purchased Mariposa, a large mobile by Alexander Calder and started a long tradition of buying original artwork for new stores as they opened. The Mariposa sold at a Sotheby’s auction last month fetching $18.2 million. The items are being offered through Sotheby's auction house, NYC, New York and Heritage Auction, Dallas, Texas. Many of the pieces were personally collected by Stanley Marcus from the 1960s through the 1980s. Some of the pieces are from corporate spaces, stores and the company’s archives, among the items are important antique textiles, tribal robes...
Category

Antique 19th Century Indian Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Gesso, Wood, Paint

Large Whimsical Antique Hand Carved Wooden Horse Sculpture
Located in Forney, TX
A large antique hand carved wooden horse sculpture on stand. Most likely from Southeast Asia, (Indonesian, Burmese, Thai) early 20th c...
Category

Early 20th Century Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Wood

You May Also Like

1950s American Hand-Painted Carnival Ride Panel
Located in Chicago, IL
1950s American hand-painted carnival ride panel.
Category

Vintage 1950s North American Primitive Carnival Art

Materials

Mirror, Wood

Antique American Amusement Park Motorcycle Painted Carousel Carnival Ride 1940s
Located in Portland, OR
Antique American carnival amusement park, carousel motorcycle ride, from the late 1940s. A fabulous late 1940s motorcycle carousel ride, the motorcycle body is made of wood and is ha...
Category

Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern Carnival Art

Materials

Steel, Iron

Early 20th century continental decorative carousel horse
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Early 20th century continental decorative carousel horse circa 1900. Unique continental painted merry-go-round horse circa 1900. Excellent opportunity to own this highly decorative ...
Category

Early 20th Century German Folk Art Painted Furniture

Materials

Oak, Pine, Paint

Rare 19th century fairground Bayol carousel horse
Located in London, GB
Rare 19th century fairground Bayol carousel horse Dimensions: H 47” x W 29” x D 9” Weight: 20kg Date: Late 19th Century Origin: EU Material: Pine and metal Info: This item does no...
Category

Antique Early 1900s German Victorian Carnival Art

Materials

Wood

Large Antique Carousel Element, Circa 1890
Located in Doylestown, PA
A unique carved element from a 19th century carousel, heavily carved with instead cut-glass mirrors and retaining its original painted finish. Would make a fun headboard for a bed.
Category

Antique Late 19th Century American Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Pine

Early 20th Century Hand Carved English Fairground Carousel Panel
Located in London, GB
Early 20th Century Hand Carved English Fairground Carousel Panel A rare piece of traditional English fairground art attributed to Orton and spooner. All carved from sections piece ...
Category

Vintage 1910s British Folk Art Carnival Art

Materials

Pine