Rare Folk Art Carved & Painted Parade Float Decoration

We have a most unusual Antique Folk Art Carved Parade Float Decoration in Original Paint. This thing is absolutely wild! It was carved out of wood and then covered with a paste to protect the wood which was then painted. It appears to be a combination of an Indian and a Mermaid complete with tail and headdress which was a Folk Art combination used commonly in the New Orleans area during Mardi Gras. As can be seen in the photos, there is a snake on either side of the figure and a fish head at the rear of her.

One of our specialties is American Folk Art and there were many different kinds of it depending on where it came from. There are about ten or more different colors on this piece and I must say for it's age, they are brilliant in condition. The piece does show wear as there are several cracks and what look like small repairs, but none appear to have damaged it in any serious way. This is without a doubt a "one of a kind" piece that was designed and made for a specific purpose on a parade float of this particular era.

For the serious Folk Art Collector, this is a piece that would be the center of a collection. The piece measures 30" long, 20" high and 16" wide. This is an extremely Rare Piece of Early Americana!