Early 20th Century Fairground Tiger Folk Art Ride c.1900-1930

An early 20th-century fairground tiger rocker constructed from shaped and carved wood with original hand-painted decoration. This striking folk art piece was originally made for use as a children’s amusement ride at travelling fairs or funfairs and features bold naive striping, expressive facial detailing and a shaped saddle seat covered in its original padded material. The tiger is mounted on its original metal rocking base with hand-forged fittings and handle. Extensive surface wear, paint loss and age cracks are entirely consistent with genuine fairground use and give the piece strong sculptural and decorative presence. A rare surviving example, ideal for collectors of fairground antiques, interior decoration or use as an authentic prop for film, theatre or retail display.