Image courtesy of the National Carousel Association
M.C. Illions (1872 – 1949) was one of the world’s greatest carousel carvers. His beautifully painted horses with gold-leaf manes became a signature of Coney Island Style.
Marcus Charles Illions was born in Vilnius, Lithuania and he came to Coney Island in 1888 with the British animal showman Frank C. Bostock. He worked with famed carousel carver Charles Looff until opening his own shop in 1909: M.C. Illions and Sons Carousell Works on Ocean Parkway and Neptune Avenue in Coney Island (across the street from where Lincoln High School now stands: 2789 Ocean Parkway).
In 1988, BHS interviewed one of M.C. Illions’ sons: Bernard Joseph “Barney” Illions (1901-1988). In this interview Barney Illions remembers when Dreamland amusement park burned down and many of Bostock’s animals perished. He describes how his father started working with Charles Looff and the influence M.C. had on other master carvers of the time like W.F. Mangels, Carmel, Stein & Goldstein. Barney describes in wonderful and loving detail the process of creating beautiful carousel horses. Many of Illions’ horses are now sought after collectors items.
For more about the carousels of Coney Island check out the Flying Horses Catalog and Painted Ponies.
Listen to Barney Illions’ full interview here
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Thank you to Andy Hollenhorst for all his help researching and cataloging BHS’s Coney Island oral histories.
Mangels-Illions Carousel courtest of liangjinjiang on Flickr
I have just had my carousel appraised by Ken Weaver and he said my horse looks to be a Illions’. It is a second row jumper with real horse hair tail. If you would like a picture sent to you for your history keeping, I would be happy to do so.
Please do send a photo. Out of curiosity, where do you keep your horse?
I have been buying and selling Coney Island Postcards for awhile. Interesting blog. Do not have any of a merry go round.
Judy
Hi Sady, does your blog ever do book reviews? We have a new children’s book about the Coney Island carousel makers. Would you like a review copy? Please email me your contact info.
Thanks! Great looking blog.