IMPORTANT SHENANDOAH VALLEY OF VA FOLK ART CARVED

IMPORTANT SHENANDOAH VALLEY OF VA FOLK ART CARVED AND PAINTED YELLOW PINE CAROUSEL HORSE, laminated hollow body, separate neck and head with applied carved flowing mane, ears and split forelock, open mouth with incised teeth, flaring nostrils, and glass swirl-marble eyes, the raised front legs with carved wood shoes nailed to the hooves, the rear legs extend to the ground. Outfitted with carved trappings, manufactured without a tail, lacking original floating saddle. Outstanding dry original painted surface. Mounted on a contemporary iron pole. Attributed to James W. Sheetz, Shenandoah Co., VA. Fourth quarter 19th century. 48" h, 45" long.
Reference: See {{Folk and Decorative Art of the Shenandoah Valley}}, The Shenandoah Valley Folklore Society, front cover and p. 83, for another horse from the same carousel.
Provenance: Property of a private collector.
Note: With the recent identification of this horse in a Maine collection, we have now recorded four of the eight horses originally from the Shenandoah Co. traveling carousel which operated at various local fairs and Confederate Veterans Reunions during the fourth quarter of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Tradition indicates that the carousel, which also featured four sleigh-like benches behind each pair of horses, was built and/or assembled by James W. Sheetz. Sheetz is listed in the 1880 Shenandoah Co. census as a 29-year old carpenter living in the Stonewall District. The Sheetz family has a long history of carpentry work and cabinetmaking in Shenandoah Co. An early 20th century photo exists of the disassembled carousel being moved by two horse-drawn wagons from the Fisher's Hill picnic grounds to a UCV reunion at Hamburg. The photo was taken on Woodstock's Main Street and the carousel's horses are clearly visible.The example sold through these galleries on November 10, 2007, lot 1193, is now in the collection of the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley in Winchester, VA, where it will soon be installed as a prominent feature of the museum's permanent exhibit. The horse offered here was most likely an inside horse because it was made without a tail and without the polychrome paint decoration on its trappings seen on the specimen sold last year.

Excellent as-found condition with an outstanding untouched (never waxed) surface, one rear foot with a small loss and old 1" extension, some added nails, expected wear and flaking to paint