Carousel Horse

A carousel horse is a matter of personal taste. Some prefer “park paint” which means “never repainted” and will pay extra. Some prefer a full restoration and repaint that is artistic but not necessarily like the original decoration. You must be sure the body of an antique carousel horse has been checked and reglued if necessary, because the body is made of strips of wood and old glue often deteriorates.

The rules for folk art are unclear. Duck decoys, cigar store Indians, fantasy pieces made of broken glass, pottery or metal foil – or almost anything – can’t be retouched, and even trying to straighten out a damaged area is “iffy.”

Our advice: If you are disturbed by furnishings that look old and worn, buy new. If you like the “homey,” slightly faded decorating style, keep things clean and uncluttered, but don’t try to make it look new.