One of the most charming of all folk art pieces, the rocking horse, can be traced back as far as the Middle Ages when they were mounted on wheels and used by young would-be knights for jousting practice. Made in both Europe and the United States for over 150 years, the rocking horse is considered by many to be the most popular of all carved wooden toys.
By definition a rocking horse is made entirely of wood with a carved head and shoulders. It is mounted on a pair of broad plank rockers, or on later examples, suspended by springs from a frame. The entire object is usually painted to depict a horse and has a seat mounted between the rockers or across the frame.
Many of the 19th century horses were covered in pony hide and decorated with horsehair tails. Early 1800s horses are often one-of-a-kind designs carved by individual craftsmen in their home workshops. However, as the century progressed the demand for wooden toys for the children of the affluent spurred the opening of many toy factories. Factory-made horses from this period are often identifiable by their gesso coating over which paint was applied.
During the 1880s, American firms produced dozens of horses. One of the greatest contributors to the development of the rocking horse was American inventor and toy maker Jesse Armour Crandall. He is credited with 150 patents in his 75 year career including the spring-base rocking horse frame, which produced an up-and-down bouncing motion and the “Shoofly”rocking horse. The “Shoofly” is a highly collectible miniature rocker designed for children too small to ride a rocking horse. Variations on this popular rocking horse were produced by other companies well into the 1900s.
A shortage of materials during WWI brought a sharp decline to the production of the rocking horse on both sides of the Atlantic. The manufacture of rocking horses took another hard hit during the Depression years as the buying public tightened their purse strings. Although the economy bounced back in the late 40s and early 50s, public interest and the emergence of molded plastic toys brought an end to the “perfect toy for the affluent” by 1960.
A resurgence of historical interest in the rocking horse in the last quarter of the 20th century brought the once-beloved toy back into the limelight. Looked upon as a decorative art form, artists from Germany, England and the United States are once again turning out beautifully handcrafted horses.
Rocking toys are now produced in every imaginable animal form. Newer rocking animals are available in plush materials and poly resin plastics. While these are appreciated by the masses as a toy, they are of little to no interest to collectors.
Produced for children, and therefore subjected to rough treatment, many fine horses will have considerable wear. When considering a purchase, take your time and inspect the horse closely. Check the tails, ears and mane closely to make certain they have not been repaired or replaced. To be of full value the bridle and saddle should be original and the paint should not be chipped or faded. Until next time…………Linda
Irvington resident Linda Kennett is a professional liquidation consultant specializing in down-sizing for seniors and the liquidation of estates and may be reached at 317-429-7887 or lkennett@indy.rr.com