The yule tree ornament collection: Carousel Animals

It has begun: The Tree.
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Or rather, one of the Trees - i have three. I need three because my other collection - tree ornaments - won't fit on only one. Thanksgiving weekend is when i traditionally start putting up the tree(s), so i can finally participate in the "XXXXXX - show us yours" threads. At least some of them, since most of my ornaments are glass, and i won't be putting them out this year. I'm only putting up the tree with non-breakables this year, until i know whether Mr. Spence cat is safe around yule trees. Or rather, whether trees are safe around him! So this is the very beginning of the tree. This is only a drop in the bucket. I'll be at it for at least another week.
Where ornaments fit into other threads, i'll put them there. Ones that don't fit elsewhere, but are so cool i have to share them, i'll put here. like this guy:
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The Seahorse From the Smithsonian Carousel series by Kurt S. Adler.

Can't wait to see more pics

Put my tree up today, you are a great decorator Carolynn.

CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

widukind wrote:

CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I want snow!!!!
Have you already got snow in Saxony,Andreas??

Carolynn,that's the tree of an animal-figure collector! Just beautiful,I can't wait for more pictures.

The Great Collectors Christmas Tree! I did,nt see better!

(ps ...and I want this rhino from the tree! )

:) :)

Tree with animals...wow

I think that I will copy your idea
In my country,we put many animals on
the manger with Jesus Mary and Joseph:

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Thank you everyone! I love my trees! They are where i can fully indulge my animal collector's soul and i am thrilled to share them!

Land, i would love to see more photos of your nativity display. i love nativity displays.

Sergey wrote:

(ps ...and I want this rhino from the tree! )

If you really want one: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] :)
They don't ship to Russia, so PM me if you want me to help you...

I confess I find your tree very beautiful, I'm not very devoted to Christmas ornaments but this year I'll try to make a Presepio with some of my wild figures. I'm eager to see your complete forest!

I love that Christmas tree with so many animals!!

Remember I said i'd started my tree,
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well, now i've finished:
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please note, i've finished because i ran out of (a) steam and (b) room. If i hadn't run out of steam, i'd still be cramming ornaments on the thing, because this is i'd guess only about half my collection.

i just realized that that picture cuts off the very top of the tree, but that's okay coz i had to have a close up of my tree topper. Not being into the usual stars or angels or whatever, i wanted something special, something that could sit way at the top of a tree, and be king of it all, and my prayers were answered:
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Let's start with the Smithsonian Carousel series, replications of antique carousel pieces in the Smithsonian Museum. Released late 1980s-early 1990s. What's really cool about this set is they came with information about who made each animal and what carousel they were on. I couldn't afford them when they first came out, but i've slowly been hunting them down.
You've already met the Seahorse above, but let's start with my first one, the one i couldn't resist buying when they first came out, even though i was broke. To this day, i think he's still my favorite (but don't tell the rest of them!)
Feast your eyes on the Armored Horse:
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The American Deer
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the Rooster
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Carousel Horse
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the Goat
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the Zebra
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the Elephant
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the Camel
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and finishing up with another Carousel Horse
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but ah-hah! I'm not finished after all, because there are still the cats to share with you. I'm telling you, after you've feasted your eyes on these beauties, you're going to have a whole new appreciation for what really constitutes a good cat figure.
And you might have nightmares because you are about to enter the Twilight Zone of animal figures. You are forewarned.
Are you ready? You might think you are, but you're not.

Lo, here is the Tiger
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ugh, you say, bad, but not that bad. You sure? Let's take a closeup look:
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Yikes!
oh, you're still not impressed? Hmmmm, then how about the Lion
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What the ....? did the guy who carved this ever even see a lion?

ok, he probably saw a picture of one.
Which is more than you can say for the inspired genius who created the masterpiece that is the African Lion
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be afraid, be very afraid
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really, comment would be superfluous.


okay, after that horror, let's return to safe ground, an animal every artist knows and loves, the cat, who has been immortalized as one of the most popular carousel figures ever, the darling, the adorable and charming
Cat with fish
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isn't that the cutest thing ever? really, it's the perfect kitty cat, except for the front paws being a little... wait a minute... what is with its front paws? they look like...
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yes, they are....
HANDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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with OPPOSABLE THUMBS!!!!!!!!!!!!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Your Christmas Tree is very special, great idea with Eagle on the top And these animals from carousel are incredible! Lions, tiger-funny guys indeed! They are like from another World And this CAT WITH FISH, wow he is unbelievable!!! Surreal!

Ahahah, that's interesting Carolynn! Thanks for showing! I see clearly a very artistic expression in any figure! All of them have a lot of character and the whole group makes a very crazy but wonderful tree! They do not intend to be realistic and we should get what any sculptor wants to express!

Continuing with carousel animals:
Hallmark made a lovely series.
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I don't believe they are replicas of actual carousel animals, but they are made to look like a style of carving where the seams are visible where they pieced the figure together. THere is also a Kangaroo, but i can't find him to take his picture. I know he's on the tree, but where??!?!

Thanks for showing, they are beautiful! :) Nice polar bear! I think the kangaroo jumped out to the closest presepio!

Carolynn, it's beautiful!!!!!

-KRistie

Thank you Anna, Kristie and Roger!

Roger wrote:

Ahahah, that's interesting Carolynn! Thanks for showing! I see clearly a very artistic expression in any figure! All of them have a lot of character and the whole group makes a very crazy but wonderful tree! They do not intend to be realistic and we should get what any sculptor wants to express!

yes! We need to remember that like our toy figures, carousel animals are first to give joy to children, and if they are beautiful art too, that is a bonus.

I found the Hallmark Kangaroo:
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Breyer also has made a series of carousel ornaments in ceramic.
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This is 2011 "Sonata", the 12th in the series; the others are not on the tree this year because i didn't put out most of my breakable ornaments because my crazy cat.

i've had this little wooden carousel horse probably 25 years
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Izzy wrote:

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oh! this is exquisite! magical!

Holy Moses

I run out of words ( yes, it IS possible )

I have to spend HOURS looking, ohhhhhh

Wonderful! Thanks for sharing.