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Carousel Goat Rendered by Donald Donovan (artist), c. 1938 watercolor, graphite, and pen and ink on paper overall: 35 x 45.7 cm (13 3/4 x 18 in.) Original IAD Object: 60" long Index of American Design 1943.8.16832 Not on View |
Object 16 of 26
This goat once graced the Island Park Carousel in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, which opened in 1905/1906. The carousel was one of about forty built by the Charles I.D. Looff Company. Looff, a German immigrant, was a skilled artisan and woodcarver. The success of his first carousel, installed in 1875 at Coney Island, allowed him to open a factory in Brooklyn. Soon he had factories in East Providence (Riverside), Rhode Island, and Long Beach, California. Looff carved many works himself and, as his business grew, also employed a number of master carvers with their own distinct styles. Although the horse was the most popular subject, carousel animals often included dogs, bears, lions, giraffes, roosters, ostriches, and reindeer. This particular goat was recorded by Index artist Donald Donovan. He captured the well-used figure in great detail, showing the eagle-head saddle cantle and the weathered paint finish.
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