August 2024 Premier Fine Art & Antiques Auction
August 27th, 2024
Below is just a small portion of the massive selection of high quality art & antiques to be featured in our upcoming August 27th, 2024 auction! This auction will span multiple genres of collectibles, including Fine Paintings & Art, Jewelry & Silver, Orientalia, Rare Glass & Lamps, Early & Victorian Furniture, Decoys, Carvings, Coin-Op, & MORE!
CARMEL & BORRELLI ARMORED CAROUSEL HORSE.
05-984
Charles Carmel (1865-1931) immigrated to the United States from Russia in 1883 as a trained carver; he found work easily in some of the carousel shops where he carved animals. In 1905 he left his job and opened his own carving facility in Brooklyn, NY. Mario Domenico Borrelli (1893-1969) arrived in Ellis Island from Italy in 1907 aboard the ship Deutschland. He lived with his cousin Joseph Borrelli who resided in Cliffside Park, N.J., near Little Coney Island. Borrelli became employed by Frederick Dolle as a “ring boy” and through time became partners with Frederick, and eventually after his passing, he became partners with Elizabeth Dolle; Frederick’s widow. During his time as an independent carver, Charles Carmel sold his horses to carousel frame manufacturers including Frederick Dolle and M.D. Borrelli. Charles Carmel had very high standards as his horses appeared realistic and beautifully decorated; fish scale blankets, feathers, tassels, and armor. This full-size horse with jeweled armor, trappings and brown saddle with leather reins. The figure with raised foreleg, raised ears, brown glass eyes, the body in black paint with white horse hair tail. The draped armor with rows of polychrome faceted glass jewels. The trappings, bridles and saddles with faceted applied jewels were believed to be done by M.D. Borrelli, it was learned that Carmel did not care for the jewels and when he did use them, it was very sparingly. SIZE: 58″ h x 58″ l.
