Artist Ira Chaffin also makes wonderful Carousel Horses which are enjoyed as stand-alone Sculptures or they can be installed into a Carousel Horse ride. He follows the long tradition of hand-carving them in bass wood. The process involves cutting two inch thick timbers of basswood in appropriate lengths according to the horse size being sculpted. He glues the timbers together to form enough volume to carve the desired figure out of the wood and roughs out the desired form. The desired horse pose is shaped from the initial rectangular wood shape into a curvilinear form. Significant expertise is required in the sizing and sculpting of the horse figure to bring the bare wood into the artistic form.

Horse Sizes

Ira’s Carousel Horses, like traditional Carousel Horses from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, come in three sizes: Inside Row, Middle row, and Outside Row.

Inside Row horses are the smallest since there is less space towards towards the center of the Carousel horse ride which is basically a circular floor as you come inward on the circle platform towards the middle of the ride. Inside Row horses are 32 inches from their farthest measurement from chest to their rear.

Middle Row horses located in the mid portion of the circular Carousel Horse ride, are 36 inches from chest to rear.

Outside Row horses are the largest at 48 inches from chest to rear, and sometimes are up to 60 inches in very large traditional Horse Carousels. Carved horses in the photos of this Web-site are various sizes.

Carousel Brass Pole

Carousel Horses, once sculpted and painted, are mounted on Brass Poles which follow the traditional precedent of being one of two pole types. The client can specify if they prefer the smooth brass pole or the embossed brass pole with swirl pattern. Both brass pole types come with a decorative fennel at top and are delightful to behold.

Carousel Horse Base

The Artist completes the client’s Carousel Horse with its preferred brass pole by mounting it onto a specially created base he crafts from wood. The client chooses which type of wood base they prefer, which typically is in mahogany, cherry, oak, or walnut wood and finishes. As an additional feature, casters can be installed by the Artist prior to the delivery if the client anticipates moving their carousel horse around from time to time with ease.

Horse Painting, Colors, and Finishing

The commissioned Carousel Horses are painted by the Artist in one of the following standard horse body paint themes: Black, Brown, White, Yellow (Palomino), Appaloosa (Dominant Color Gray or White, with Spots in Gray or White) or Pinto also known as a “Paint” (Dominant Color White with either Black or Brown areas)

Horse eyes are brown, painted by the Artist in a realistic manner, except that Appaloosa Horses in real life typically have blue eyes, which the Artist is happy to create for the client. Ira’s horse tales and manes are carved in wood by the Artist in an active pose suggesting motion, though actual horse hair tales are available.

The Artist can create Zebras for a client, upon request, but there is an additional charge for the painting since it takes longer than regular Carousel Horses, but the finished effect is very beautiful and all the more rare.

Carousel Horse Saddles

The Artist presumes a standard saddle, in the client’s selected color. More complicated saddles and saddles with special figures and carvings are available, upon request, and are priced accordingly.