#241 • Dentzel-Muller Outside Row Pen Mar Carousel Horse
Part of June 2023 Premier Auction (live auction by Alaska Premier Auctions & Appraisals)
High bid $4,600.00
Status: Sold
Category: Antiques
A large outside row antique carousel horse originally from the historic Pen Mar Park, Hanover, PA, circa 1905~. The example is accompanied by extensive provenance as pictured. Over the years, the story described within this provenance indicating the carousel was originally fabricated by Dentzel in Germany has been rebuffed, with historical records actually indicating origins in Philadelphia by the important Muller Brother Carvers, fairly close to the Pen Mar Park. The carousel would go on to be purchased by August and Dorothy Karst of Forest Park of Hanover, Pennsylvania sometime during the 1940s after the Pen Mar closed as a casualty of declined attendance in the 1930s and nail in the coffin of the onset of World War II. Spanning forward into the early 1950's the Karst's sold the carousel to Z.E. "Slim" Eagelston, who purchased it sight unseen for $1500, plus another $1500 for freight to Anchorage, AK, where Slim intended to build an amusement park. Slim's good intentions went unrealized due to a lack of electricity where the carousel was originally assembled, and in 1955 it was sold to Alfred V. Hagen, the former mayor of Palmer, before being auctioned in 1971 and again in 1980, after which it was carefully restored to its present form in an attempt to match the original paint scheme exactly. Detailed notes regarding restoration efforts are provided in the photos affixed to this lot. The horse features a prancing pose with the offsite forefoot aloft, and detailed eagle and other royal imagery on the romance side. Stirrups, reins, and tail have all been carefully restored or replaced. Includes a hardcover book, A Pictorial History of the Carousel by Frederick Fried, plus photographs, newspaper articles, and typed provenance notes from the previous owners. Additional information regarding the history of this carousel and story is listed in detail online, a fascinating read indeed. The horse measures approximately 71" x 24" x 60" tall. There is some minor losses to the back left hoof and the wood in that area remains soft, as well as some stress cracks running along the front breast, as photographed. **This lot description was updated on 06.05 following additional research efforts after initially being listed as a Dentzel example from Hamburg circa the 1890's.**
