Pair of 19th C Carousel Decorative Female Torsos attributed to Charles I.D. Luff from Brooklyn.
1876-1888
Wood
86 x 47 x 22 cm
33 7/8 x 18 1/2 x 8 5/8 in
33 7/8 x 18 1/2 x 8 5/8 in
1872
POA
This pair of female torsos presumably decorated a fair stand or an organ in a theme park. Most likely they were part of an immense organ that was intended to entertain the people with its impressive sound. A fairground 80-keyless organ with similar female decorations, made by the brothers Bruder in Waldkirch (Germany), once stood in the center of the large Feltman carousel in Coney Island. That instrument contained no less than 350 pipes, orchestra bells and traps including bass, snare drums, cymbal and triangle. (https://www.mechanicalmusic.org/fullscreen-page/comp-jg05equm/7b25f576-0f73-4c1b-b869-55c65a85d8fa/0/?i=0&p=ed3cj&s=style-jg02f953).