This is an early 1900's Dentzel carousel horse and could be original paint based on the condition and year.

A beautiful carving.

Patrick Wentzel

And a nice one, too. Not as highly ornamented as they get, so probably not by Looff. The pose, saddle/blanket, and real hair tail are similar to many horses carved by the Mullers.

I wonder if this horse was ordered as a gift for the boy, or if it was salvaged from an old carousel that was no longer in use?

He's even sporting a pair of jodhpurs. Maybe the riding boots will be under the tree next Christmas?

I think this diagnosis from Thurber applies to the pony:

Q: No one has been able to tell us what kind of dog we have. I am enclosing a sketch of one of his two postures. He only has two. The other one is the same as this except he faces in the opposite direction. - Mrs EUGENIA BLACK

A: I think that what you have is a cast-iron lawn dog. The expressionless eye and the rigid pose are characteristic of metal lawn animals. And that certainly is a cast-iron ear. You could, however, remove all doubt by means of a simple test with a hammer and a cold chisel, or an acetylene torch. If the animal chips, or melts, my diagnosis is correct.

Just occurs to me that 1935 was the height of the depression. This family was doing very well.

Most kids would have been happy with an orange or apple.