HAND-CARVED WOODEN ROCKING HORSE WITH ORIGINAL TACK - ENGLISH OR EUROPEAN,

OVERVIEW:
A SUBSTANTIAL HAND-CARVED WOODEN ROCKING HORSE OF CONSIDERABLE AGE AND CHARACTER, RETAINING ALL ORIGINAL TACK AND GENUINE HORSEHAIR. THIS IS A WORKING TOY FROM THE LATE VICTORIAN ERA, CONSTRUCTED WITH THE SOLID CRAFTSMANSHIP TYPICAL OF QUALITY NURSERY FURNITURE OF THE PERIOD. THE PIECE DEMONSTRATES THE SKILL OF ITS MAKER IN THE CARVED HEAD AND BODY, AND THE SURVIVAL OF ORIGINAL LEATHER SADDLE, BRIDLE, AND CANVAS GIRTH STRAPS IS NOTEWORTHY.

SPECIFICATIONS:
CONSTRUCTION AND MATERIALS:
- PRIMARY STRUCTURE: SOLID HARDWOOD BODY, HAND-CARVED HEAD WITH NATURALISTIC DETAIL TO EARS, NOSTRILS, AND MUZZLE
- MANE AND TAIL: GENUINE HORSEHAIR, FULL AND INTACT, SHOWING NATURAL COLOUR VARIATION AND AGE
- SADDLE: ORIGINAL PINK FELT SEAT MOUNTED ON LEATHER BASE WITH BRASS STUD FASTENING
- BRIDLE: RED LEATHER WITH BRASS FITTINGS AND BUCKLES, COMPLETE WITH ORIGINAL CONFIGURATION
- GIRTH STRAPS: CANVAS WITH PAINTED DECORATIVE DETAIL IN GREEN, GOLD, AND RED, SHOWING PERIOD HAND-PAINTING TECHNIQUE
- ROCKERS: CAST IRON, CURVED PROFILE WITH DECORATIVE DETAIL TO UNDERSIDE

DIMENSIONS:
- HEIGHT TO TOP OF HEAD: 90 CM
- WIDTH ACROSS BODY: 35 CM
- LENGTH INCLUDING ROCKERS: 90 CM

CONDITION ASSESSMENT:
THE ROCKING HORSE DISPLAYS HONEST WEAR CONSISTENT WITH GENUINE AGE AND USE. THE CARVED TIMBER SHOWS NATURAL PATINA WITH SURFACE CRAZING TYPICAL OF WOOD THAT HAS AGED PAINT TO THE DECORATIVE CANVAS ELEMENTS HAS FADED FROM BRIGHT PRIMARY COLOURS TO SOFTER TONES. THE LEATHER SADDLE AND BRIDLE SHOW CREASING AND EDGE WEAR APPROPRIATE TO A WELL-LOVED TOY. THE HORSEHAIR MANE AND TAIL REMAIN FULL AND INTACT, A SIGNIFICANT POINT AS THESE ARE FREQUENTLY LOST OR REPLACED ON EXAMPLES OF THIS AGE. THE CAST IRON ROCKERS SHOW WEAR TO THEIR CONTACT SURFACES BUT REMAIN STRUCTURALLY SOUND.

NO EVIDENCE OF MAJOR RESTORATION IS APPARENT. THE PIECE HAS NOT BEEN REFINISHED OR REPAINTED. THE ORIGINAL TACK REMAINS IN PLACE AND FUNCTIONAL. THIS IS A TOY THAT WAS USED AND LOVED, NOT A MUSEUM PIECE THAT WAS PRESERVED IN ISOLATION.

PROVENANCE:
PRIVATE COLLECTION, ORIGIN NOT DOCUMENTED. THE QUALITY OF CARVING AND THE SURVIVAL OF ORIGINAL TACK SUGGEST THIS WAS A TOY OF SOME VALUE WHEN NEW, LIKELY FROM AN ENGLISH OR CONTINENTAL EUROPEAN MAKER .

ROCKING HORSES OF THIS AGE AND QUALITY, PARTICULARLY THOSE RETAINING ORIGINAL HORSEHAIR AND TACK, ARE INCREASINGLY SOUGHT BY COLLECTORS OF VICTORIAN NURSERY FURNITURE AND FOLK ART.

Item Size: Height: 95cm, Width: 50cm, Depth: 100cm, Weight: 18Kg

Condition: Fair

TOORMINA
548788+2

Location of item: 9 Hi-Tech Drive, Toormina, NSW, Australia

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