19th Century French Limonaire Frères Signed Carved Polychrome Wood Carousel Donkey Horse Amusement Ride Folk Art Sculpture

Description

A rare and important antique French carousel amusement ride by legendary craftsmen Limonaire Frères or Limonaire Brothers (Paris, France; 1839-1932) … more A rare and important antique French carousel amusement ride by legendary craftsmen Limonaire Frères or Limonaire Brothers (Paris, France; 1839-1932)

Exquisitely hand-crafted in France in the late 19th century, exceptionally executed life-size sculptural form depicting a standing donkey with unique nodding head, finished in country fair taste. Hand-carved solid wood construction, animal features the original polychrome painted finish with beautifully aged heavily worn original warm rustic patina.

Signed, retaining the original manufacturer's brass plaque that reads: "Sculptures Pour Forains, Chevaux De Bois Etc, Limonaire Freres, Paris, 166 Avenue Daumesnil"

The extremely rare, museum quality example is one of the very few surviving Limonaire Frères wooden carousel fixtures, and one of only a handful imported to the United States.

DIMENSIONS: (approx)
44" High, 52" Wide, 10" Deep

PROVENANCE / ACQUISITION:
Acquired from the highly reputable auction house, Schultz Auctioneers, Clarence, New York. Important Antiques & Decorative Arts catalog

HISTORY:
Limonaire Frères were an amusement ride and later street organ and fairground organ builder, based in Paris, France, during the 19th and early 20th century.

In 1907, the economic crisis in the USA severely affected the export market of Gavioli in the German Black Forest town of Waldkirch, centre of the German fairground organ industry, with the result that Gavioli ceased trading there. This allowed Limonaire the opportunity to be able to take over the premises and remaining stock in 1908, and business became successful enough that a new factory was built on land previously owned by Richard Bruder in 1912. Many organs were produced by Limonaire in these years, under the "Orchestronphone" trade name, often incorporating a bioscope. In the heyday of La Belle Époque, only the other Parisian firm of Gavioli was larger.

The confiscation of the German factory in 1917 during World War I, signalled the
end of peak production, and indeed, after the war, Limonaire chose not to return to Germany, their factory eventually being bought in 1926 by Alfred Bruder who continued building organs. Camille Limonaire died in 1920 and Eugène sold his shares in the company, a new company then being created in 1920 under the management of Charles Albert Demouts and later Louis Moutier. Unfortunately demand for the organs and merry-go-rounds continued to decline, and in 1929 the Limonaire company went into liquidation. It was bought immediately and run as a non-specialist company for a short time, taking over one by one the names and remaining assets of once famous organ companies such as Gasparini, Gaudin, Marenghi and Gavioli, but this ultimately failed and by 1932 all stock was being sold off.

In 1936 the factory at 166 Avenue Daumesnil, Paris, was closed and demolished.

The French language reference Le Petit Robert de la langue Française considers the name Limonaire to be generally defined as "a barrel organ mainly used for carousel music".

Today, due to their fine quality and exceptional craftsmanship Limonaire antiques are considered highly collectible. Some carnival figures / merry-go-round horses have survived in museum collections around the world, although only limited numbers remain in their original condition.

CONDITION:
A superb museum quality folk art work in excellent original antique condition. The highly desirable unrestored example enhanced by organically distressed stable chippy paint weathered patina over the whole. Nothing that detracts from the overall display or functionality but only adds to the sophisticated antique character, elegant rustic warmth, and rich historical depth that can only be acquired from children joyfully riding atop it over very long periods of time.

PROFESSIONAL SHIPPING / WHITE-GLOVE IN-HOME DELIVERY / PICKUP AVAILABLE:
Depending on your location, third-party shipping partners availability, route, schedule, etc...please allow up to nine weeks for delivery. Average is typically three-four weeks.

Local pickup / delivery available near Niagara Falls / Buffalo, New York less