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Lawn Jockeys - Here, There, but Not Necessarily Everywhere

By
Real Estate Agent with eXp Realty of California, Inc. CA DRE #01490977

Lawn Jockey in my neighborhood in La Costa, Carlsbad, California - Jeff DowlerIt's a pretty rare sight, especially in our area of Southern California, but Lawn Jockeys are still around. There are two, in fact, in my neighborhood in La Costa adjacent to the La Costa Resort. The one in the photo was all dressed up for Easter, as you can see -we walked by the other evening and it seemed appropriate to snap a pic, which inspired this post.

They are each perched at the end of the drive-ways of two homes across the street from the resort. I don't know the history but suspect they have been there since the homes were built in the 1960s right after the La Costa Resort was completed (they happen to be homes owned by the same family).

Lawn Jockeys are small statues of figures (historically most were black) dressed in jockey clothes, usually brightly colored. Some have the home owners' initials painted on them. Personally I never quite understood the appeal but they clearly have been popular in some areas. And not just a horse properties.

In case you don't know about the history of lawn jockeys, here's a good article on the Lawn Jockey in Wikipedia. There are a number of stories about the origin but that remains unclear and undocumented. Many of them have disappeared over the years, in part, I suspect, to the racial issues and controversy they have raised (many of the original Lawn Jockeys were black figures, some of which have been repainted). They still tend to be popular in some parts of the US and are manufactured today.

Any lawn jockeys hanging out in YOUR area?

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All content copyright © 2009 Jeff Dowler Carlsbad Homes and Real Estate Tidbits

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Jeff Dowler, CRS
Certified Residential Specialist / Realtor®


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Comments (7)

William Johnson
Retired - La Jolla, CA
Retired

Hi Jeff, The word you were referring to was Blackamoor. They were prevalent all through the East when I was growing up. I always thought of them as an elegant appointment more for aristocratic homes and then having moved away, had not seen them much anymore and completly changed my mind about them. The idea of lawn sculpture with the more creative and wonderful objects now available are so much nicer than even the Lawn Jockeys. They are sort of " out of date". But the memory you conjured up was good. 

Apr 15, 2009 04:04 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

William - well I grew up back East and I never heard about Blackamoors. Interesting. But   som any places where I spent most of my younger days had real horses and some real jockeys - guess they didn't need the statues.

Jeff

Apr 15, 2009 04:24 PM
Jeff Belonger
Social Media - Infinity Home Mortgage Company, Inc - Cherry Hill, NJ
The FHA Expert - FHA Loans - FHA mortgages - USDA loans - VA Loans

Jeff D....  interesting. From time to time, I would see some of these lawn jockeys, and usually in subdivisions that had old money or just money. And just like yourself, I never truly understood why someone would want to have these at the end of their driveway. And later tonight or tomorrow, I am going to read about that history. Thanks for sharing...

Jeff Belonger

Apr 15, 2009 04:25 PM
Patty Luther
RE/MAX Rock-n-Roll Realty - Lewiston, ID
Lewiston ID Real Estate, Idaho-Washington

Jeff you are always full of information! We don't see too many of these Lawn Jockeys in the Lewis-Clark Valley...but while I lived in Portland OR I remember seeing some! PattyLuther 

Apr 15, 2009 07:29 PM
Sheldon Neal
Bergen County, NJ - RE/MAX Real Estate Limited - Maywood, NJ
That British Agent Bergen County NJ

What a different type of post from you Jeff !!! ... I dont remember ever reading a post on 'Lawn Jockeys' before !!!!!

These lawn figures are still dotted around the North East and they are always a fun little sight !

Cheers Jeff !

Sheldon

Apr 16, 2009 02:07 AM
Sharon Simms
Coastal Properties Group International - Christie's International - Saint Petersburg, FL
St. Petersburg FL - CRS CIPS CLHMS RSPS

Jeff - we have a classy mailbox on Tierra Verde that could be considered a Lawn Jockey. Stands out as the best mailbox in the area!

Apr 16, 2009 11:15 AM
Chris Olsen
Olsen Ziegler Realty - Cleveland, OH
Broker Owner Cleveland Ohio Real Estate

Here in the midwest, we get those huge 12" stainless steel gazing balls -- egads!

Apr 17, 2009 01:34 PM