Highest Selling Carousel Figures at Public Auction on Record
 

1895-2000 – There has been a misinformed article on the top carousel figure auction prices circulating the world-wide-web for about a decade now. Like many carousel “experts”, the article was compiled of partial truths and random, misquoted non-facts and numbers. This list should get it right for everyone from now on out. I separate between 1985-2000 when The Carousel News & Trader printed their last “World Record Prices” list. Up until 2000 it is very safe to say that the CN&T did not miss any auctions with high selling carousel figures. After that, it’s very possible.

From 2000-Present – The big (and small) carousel auctions died off over a decade ago. Now a few carousel animals from a collection, or even just one or two random figures appear in auctions here and there. Sometimes we hear about it, sometimes we don’t. Sometimes they do very well, (sometimes they don’t). We will do all we can to keep this list correct and up-to-date, with your help. If you know of a figure sold at public auction that should be on this list, please let us know. Let’s get history right.

---

Top Auction Prices – Top 10 All Time Carousel Figures

As originally compiled by The Carousel News & Trader magazine, 1985-2000; with later additions from various auctions, 2001-Present. If you know of a top selling carousel figure at Public Auction*, please send us an email and let us know.
*These are all prices from PUBLIC AUCTION sales. No private sale prices will ever be listed or included. Private is private.

YEAR	CARVER/MFG	STYLE	PROVENANCE	AUCTIONEER	PRICE
1992	PTC	St. Bernard		Aten	$174.000
1989	Dentzel	Rooster		Sothebys	$148,500
1991	Dentzel	Rooster		Norton	$145.00
1989	Herschell	Polar Bear		Guernseys
1989	Illions	Horse	Seaside Heights	Guernseys	$121.000
2004	Dentzel	Giraffe		Naudeau's	$118,000
1998	PTC #9	St. Bernard	Twin Grove, PA	Butterfield	$112.500
1989	Dentzel	Lion, Mascot	Coney Island Mus.	Guernseys	$110.000
2006	Dentzel	Cat		Naudeau's	$103,000
1988	Illions	Horse	Fun Forest	Guernseys	$101.750
1998	Dentzel	Rooster		Butterfield	$96.000
1992	Dentzel	Lion	Sterling Forest, NY	Aten	$95.400
2004	Muller	Horse		Sothebys	$90.000
1990	Parker"Lillie Belle"	Horse		Amus. Canvas	$88,000

---

 

Top Auction Prices – Top 5 Full Carousels

As originally compiled by The Carousel News & Trader magazine, 1985-2000; with later additions from various auctions, 2001-Present. If you know of a top selling carousel figure at Public Auction*, please send us an email and let us know.

DATE BUILT	MFG/CARVER	LOCATION	AUCTIONEER	SALE DATE	PRICE
Ca. 1905	Looff-Dentzel/Carmel	Seaside Heights, NJ	Guernseys*	2014	$2.000.000**
Ca. 1900	Mangels-Carmel-Illions	Coney Island, NY	Guernseys*	2005	$1.800.000
Ca. 1914	PTC #33	Saint Paul, MN	Guernseys*	1998	$1.125.000
Ca. 1911	Murphy-Stein & Goldstein	Garden City, NY	Norton	1995	$854.000
Ca. 1910	PTC #19	Euclid Beach, OH	Norton	1997	$715,000

---

 

Top Auction Prices – Top 5 Carousel Horses

As originally compiled by The Carousel News & Trader magazine, 1985-2000; with later additions from various auctions, 2001-Present. If you know of a top selling carousel figure at Public Auction*, please send us an email and let us know.

2000 RANK	DATE	CARVER/MFG	STYLE	PROVENANCE	AUCTIONEER	PRICE
1	1989	Illions	Jumper	Seaside Heights	Guernseys	$121.000
2	1988	Illions	Stander	Fun Forest	Guernseys	$101.750
3	2004	Muller	Stander		Sothebys	$90.000
4	1990	C. W. Parker	"Lillie Belle"		Amusement Can.	$88.000
5	1988	Carmel/Borrelli	Armored	Fun Forest	Guernseys	$86,900

SEE ALL  75 TOP SELLING CAROUSEL HORSES >>>

---

 

Top Auction Prices – Top 5 Carousel Menagerie

As originally compiled by The Carousel News & Trader magazine, 1985-2000; with later additions from various auctions, 2001-Present. If you know of a top selling carousel figure at Public Auction*, please send us an email and let us know.

YEAR	CARVER/MFG	STYLE	PROVENANCE	AUCTIONEER	PRICE
1992	PTC	St. Bernard		Aten	$174.000
1989	Dentzel	Rooster	UNK	Sothebys	$148.500
1991	Dentzel	Rooster	UNK	Norton	$145.000
1989	Allan Herschell	Polar Bear	UNK	Guernseys	$121.000
1998	PTC #9	St. Bernard	Twin Grove, PA	Butterfield	$112.500

SEE ALL  50 TOP SELLING CAROUSEL MENAGERIE FIGURES >>>

---

 

Top Auction Prices – Top 10 Chariots & Trim

As originally compiled by The Carousel News & Trader magazine, 1985-2000; with later additions from various auctions, 2001-Present. If you know of a top selling carousel figure at Public Auction*, please send us an email and let us know.

DATE	CARVER/MFG	DESCRIPTION	PROVENANCE	AUCTIONEER	PRICE
1989	PTC #12	Chariot	Crystal Beach	Guernseys	$17.600
1989	Looff	Chariot	Palace Carousel	Guernseys	$13.200
1980	PTC #31	Chariot	Hurlbut/Indian Lake, OH	Norton	$13.000
1988	Illions Supreme	Chariot	Circus World	Guernseys	$12.100
1987	Looff	Chariot	Ringling Museum	Phillips	$11,000
1988	Carmel/Borelli	Chariot	Fun Forest	Guernseys	$11,000
1988	Carmel/Borelli	Chariot	Fun Forest	Guernseys	$11,000
1995	Illions	Chariot		Aten	$11,000
1988	Illions Supreme	Chariot	Circus World	Guernseys	$10,450
1990	Illions	Chariot	Boblo Island	Norton	$10,000