Antique Carousel Horse Reproduction - Create Your Own

Antique carousel horses can sell for thousands of dollars. Luckily, craftsman have created molds of these works of art. From the molds came reproduction horses. In this article I will show you how to purchase them and briefly show you the process of finishing an unpainted carousel horse

Anyone with reasonable talent with a paint brush can create an antique reproduction carousel horse. Unpainted or unfinished carousel horse molds can be purchased ready to paint. These molded horses are made of a high density polyethylene which is strong and very forgiving to the finisher. The artist is able to make the choice to purchase a horse with seams to sand at a reduced price or choose a ready to paint surface.

Time to create an antique reproduction. Choose the size you desire. Full size, half size or small horses. Full size horses at a full 65 inches high are a very large project. I have seen Elegant Standers and Royal Standers that really do look like the horses we all would ride or stand next to. Half sized unfinished carousel horses are probably the most popular to artists and hobbyist. This size fits real well in baby nurseries and little girls rooms. Most of the horses that I have seen available come complete with the brass pole that runs through the horse.

Let's Get to Painting ! There are many ways to finish a carousel horse. Most people like the traditional painted horse that recreates the memory of the Merry Go Round. Some artists are able to locate pictures of carousels where the horses were originally mounted. Right down to the details, the photo can be copied to recreate that special horse. Some painters like to reproduce the carved wooden horse effect. Special paints and techniques are available to mimick a real wood surface.One of the final stages is choosing a clear coating to provide a clear finish around the painted surface. Some artists have chosen to take this step a bit further and add multiple coats of gloss creating an almost deep glass effect. Small pictures and material can be added under the gloss to get a desired look.

Creating your own carousel horse is a very rewarding project. Reproductions horses have sold for hundreds even thousands of dollars. I know of at least two small businesses that have been created finishing and selling these horses.


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The best selection of unpainted and finished carousel horses can be found here at The Merry Carousel. You can find most of the other items pertaining to carousels that are featured in my articles at this store. Good luck in your search for the perfect Carousel Horse