Fairground Carousel Pig, British

Artist unkown

about 1850-1900

Cast iron

Height: 79 cm

This pig was one of the rides on a fairground carousel, possibly one of a number of farm animals. With the rise of steam power, powered merry-go-rounds became more common and included not only farm animals but also exotic creatures and decorated horses.

This pig was previously coloured pink, and was repainted as a saddleback in the 1980s. Andras Kalman is pictured seated on this object in the photograph at the entrance to Compton Verney’s Folk Art galleries.