Executive Director Louise DeMars and Education Manager Alli Feigen with the crate, which holds the new addition to the museum.
The crate has arrived at New EnglandCarouselMuseum.
The much anticipated Game Bird Horse is hiding inside the large wood crate, in the main gallery of the museum, just waiting to be opened up.
The sign on the crate reads “Do not open til August 29th” but it is going to be hard not to peek!
Join the museum for its “Uncrating Party” on Thursday, Aug. 29 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
The New EnglandCarouselMuseum received the Game Bird Horse from the estate of Marianne Stevens, notable author, collector and carousel lover. Marianne left this horse to the CarouselMuseum because it originally rode on a Connecticut carousel. The museum board and staff “are thrilled to receive this magnificent gift to its collection and more importantly we are thrilled that Marianne Stevens left to the Carousel Museum one of her most favorite horses,” said a press release from the museum.
Marianne, co-author of “Painted Ponies,” told the ,useum staff many years ago that she was leaving this horse to their collection because it once rode on a Connecticut carousel, said the release. In the spring of 1946, the Game Bird Horse began whirling on the carousel at OceanBeachPark, in New London, Conn. The horse later became part of the vast collection of carousel pieces collected by Marianne Stevens.
The Game Bird Horse will be a significant addition to the Museum’s collection, said the museum’s press release. It was created by the notable master carver, John Zalar, for carousel manufacturer, Charles Looff. Zalar was not only a highly skilled carver but also a master sculptor and illustrator. The Game Bird Horse has a masterfully carved “peek-a-boo” mane and two realistic quail at the back of it’s saddle. Beautiful details decorate its body, said the release.
On Thursday, Aug. 29 at 5:30 p.m., the Uncrating Party will be held at the museum at 95 Riverside Avenue, Bristol
For more information, call 860 585-5411 or check out our website at www.thecarouselmuseum.org