 The Experts Know! (CAROUSEL HORSES) Each year
as new experts are discovered by "The Experts Know!" we take the opportunity to introduce them to you through our
Guest Expert pages. The Experts Know Alarms, is sponsering an exciting new consultant in the field of Carousel Horses and
Carousel Horse Restoration. It is with great pleasure that we introduce to you Joe & Melissa Vesce and their studio: Jo
Petto's Carousel Gallery
The Experts Know! recently visited with Joe and Melissa. I learned many things from Joe about the differences and styles of
the carousel horses master carvers. One thing that really impressed me was how the European master carver’s, would carve
only straight forward and stoic looking horses in their homelands. Joe showed me how when they came to America, a land that
was just embracing the carousel, they began to carve great emotion with never before seen head tilt and body movements into
the horses. This represented the freedom they felt from being in America.
I was also in awe of the emotion Joe
has acquired about the careful restoration of these great works of art. You see when these horses were in use in the parks
of America, they would break or wear out from the children enjoying them. The park maintenance personnel would nail them together
and put coats of paint on them every year. When Joe gets a hold of one of these so called “basket cases” he begins
a process of lovingly saving the masters art to its former glory, thus saving the treasure from extinction. Studying the quality
of his work, I noticed that Joe’s meticulous workmanship made it hard to know where the old master left off and the
new master applied his "hobby". After my visit I realized that Joe doesn’t call it a hobby because he is modest.
It is because he loves the process of watching the horses “come back to life”. He and Melissa fall in love with
each one throughout the process. They do not actively seek an opportunity to sell these new members of their family. Hence
the term hobby is used.
The passion they feel for restoring these works of art to the original artist’s
intentions, means that you need to be as passionate, if you would like to admire one as your own. Joe just finished
painting this reproduction Kit Carson Carousel Horse for a Friend. Beautiful!
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“Carousel” is a word that has derived from
the words “Garosello” (Italian) and “Carosella” (Spanish). Both mean “Little War” and
was thus adapted by early crusaders who witnessed Turkish and Arabian horseman, playing a game in which they would toss perfumed
water back and forth while riding past each other. The losers could easily be identified by the strong scents they would emit
for days after the event.
This game made its way to Europe and was transformed by France in the fifteenth century.
The French adaptations turned into an event called “Carrousel”. This was a grand event of horsemanship and pageantry
with the highlight being a lance and ring competition.
Around 1680 the idea came to light that a game replicating
these skilled events could be fabricated by hanging legless wooden horses with arms attached onto a center pole. It was powered
by horses, mules and in some documentation slaves.
Over the next few centuries the concept of carousels made
its way to other countries. They made their way to America in the mid 1800s. As it made its way to different places in the
world names varied, such as:
Roundabouts, Gallopers, Tilts (UK)
Caroussels (France)
Stoomcaroussels
(Netherlands)
Torneos (Italy)
Karussels (Germany)
Whirligigs, Carry-Us-Alls, Hobby Horses and Merry-Go-Rounds
(USA)
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How
the Carousel Horse Bug Bit Us!
By: Joe and Melissa Vesce.
Hi, We
are Joe and Melissa Vesce. We owned a wonderful restaurant known as The Wine Press Inn located in the Pocono Mountains of
Pennsylvania. I was the chef and Melissa took care of the front of the house. As business owners we found very little time
for anything other then the restaurant. We did keep one day a week aside for ourselves, but by the time we took care of the
daily necessities, the remaining time was always too short. We found that the short days were limiting our ideas, on how to
spend them. We created some games to play to help us with this daunting task. First and foremost, the mere mention of business
would cost the violator $5.00 per infraction. One fun way to fill out the day was the creation of a left or right turn day.
We would drive straight until the road came to an end, at which time we would choose between a right or left turn. We would
then stick to the chosen direction of turns until we came upon a sign leading us to a destination of interest.
On one beautiful sunny day off during a “Left Turn Day” We happened upon Lahska, Pennsylvania
and Peddlers Village. Melissa being a collector of an assortment of things such as dolls, steins, snow globes and many other
cute things spotted a miniature dollhouse shop. After a visit with that shop we proceeded to walk through the streets and
happened on a carousel shop. One of the items for sale, that caught our attention was a signed copy of Charlotte Dingers “Art
Of The Carousel”, a coffee table book. We purchased it. Melissa continued to browse, as I became curious with the steps
that led to the most beautiful carousel that I have ever seen. I grew up in Brooklyn, New York and my mom took me to Coney
Island as a boy. I can remember ridding the carousel a few times but I don’t recall being impressed with it. Before
I knew it, Melissa and I were both standing there in awe of this carousel. The music, the children, and the wonderful figures
on the carousel were like magic. We were both captivated, and still had no idea as to what we were looking at. Melissa turned
to me and said, “ It would be nice to have a carousel horse for my collection.” Now, I knew I was in trouble!
The ticket man by the gate must have noticed our delight and quickly started a conversation. We talked
about carousels for a short while and then he sent us in the direction of a museum that was featured in the book we just bought.
The next thing I knew we were gazing at probably one of the most beautiful carousel collections ever assembled. It was somewhere
in that museum when one of those horses bit us! On our way home all we could talk about was beautiful the carousel and museum
were. The carousel adventure was just the beginning.
The
next day Melissa was on the Internet. You guessed it! She really wanted one. At this point neither one of us had any idea
of what these horses would cost. Melissa spoke to a few very nice people, who helped us find someone reputable in our area,
where we might look at some horses that were for sale. That’s how we found Barbara and Ken Weaver. Well, Tuesday (our
day off) seemed like it would never come, and when it did we were on our way to meet Barbara and Ken. We set out to buy and
bring home a carousel horse. I had $1.000 plus in my pocket. I was ready. (NOT) Barbara and Ken showed us their horses and
the reality of the carousels finally set in. They were both so very nice and most of all patient. We spent the whole afternoon
looking and learning about many of the horses that were available. Keep in mind that many of the horses Melissa fell in love
with at the museum were the cream of the crop. The ones that were even close to my price range at the time, or let me say
that I wanted to spend, were basket cases (maybe). We thanked Barbara and Ken for a wonderful eye opening education and we
were on our way home empty handed. I’m not sure but I could almost swear Ken turned to Barbara and said, “They
will be back, I can see the teeth marks in Joe’s neck” He was right.
After
many phone calls and three years later we were ready to buy a beautiful Parker flower horse that Barbara and Ken restored
and painted for us. While we were watching the restoration process I made the comment that I could probably do that. Everyone
kind of looked at me, and the challenge was on. Ken gave me an aluminum Allan Herschell to paint, knowing that I would probably
buy that one when I was finished. My eyes were glazed over and I had that crazed look about me.
I was loosing control. I now have close to a dozen basket cases that I restore and paint as a hobby.
I have sold some to make room for new arrivals. We have since sold our restaurant and are enjoying our retirement along with
our small but satisfying hobby. I usually buy horses that need extensive repair and I feel like I’m saving them from
extinction. I take them apart when needed. I use practically no fillers. I replace crumbled wood with new basswood, and let
the glue squeeze be my filler. All nails are removed and replaced with dowels. The entire horse receives at least five coats
of primer with sanding between each coat. Finally I paint it with artists tube oils and at least two coats of polyurethane.
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Parker
horse restored for Joe and Melissa by Ken & Barbara Weaver.
Do You Want to Learn More About This Fascinating Subject? Follow the Links Below
If you would like to contact Joe for questions or comments, he can be reached at:
Jo Petto’s Carousel Gallery
E-Mail Joe & Melissa
570-629-3132 Experts Know HOME Page
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