Quick Guide to Identifying Your Antique Rocking Horse
Below you will find a quick visual guide to Rocking Horse identification.
There
are many methods in which experts use to identify a rocking horse. When
you know where to look, you can not only find the maker of the horse, but
even the decade it was made.
The most common horses we see in the workshop are Ayres, Collinson, Lines and Baby Carriage.
We
at the Rocking Horse Works are always happy to help and will use our
years of expert knowledge to identify your horse free of charge. Simply
send us a photograph in the post or via email and we will get back to
you to confirm the identity of your loyal friend.
In the meantime, have a look at our guide to identifying your horse from the comfort of your own home...
In this guide we have included the most common makers and two other popular manufacturers that are less well recognised.
If
you have not managed to identify your horse amongst our examples or
would simply like more information on the history of rocking horses and
their makers, please don't hesitate to get in touch. Steve or Alison
will be happy to help!
Alison@rockinghorseworks.co.uk
www.rockinghorseworks.co.uk
01630 653 194
COLLINSON BROTHERS ROCKING HORSES Of Liverpool,
COLLINSON BROTHERS ROCKING HORSES Of Liverpool,
Circa 1836 to 1990
a) Paintwork
Dappling,dark and bold, a lot of black used.
Bright red garish eyes, nostril and mouth.
b) Eyes.
Upholstery pins were used for eyes.
c) Hair
Mane and tail, both curly.
d) Tack
Red corduroy, used for saddle middle, the rest of the saddle made
from leatherette.
Bridle, nailed on, many decorative tacks used on dawdle and bridle.
e) Stand
Rectangular linear pillars
Diamond cut out on top of pillars.
BABY CARRIAGES LTD Also of Liverpool,
circa 1906 to 1963
(Often misconstrued as Collinson Horses)
a) Paintwork
Dappling, a lot of bold black used, but in a more patched finer format
than a Collinson.
b) Eyes
Glass eyes were used
c) Hair
curly cows tail hair (as Collinsons)
d) Tack
Saddle has no saddle block
The saddle itself made from fabric, sometimes velvet,
The skirt and rest of tack made from leatherette, sometimes real
leather was used. The blanket, or numna, made from cotton.
e) Stand
Rectangular linear posts
Rounded ends on the horizontal rails
Brackets, or hinges on top of stand have three holes in
BCL Rambler Transfer on base of stand.
G & J LINES BROTHERS Of London,
circa 1850 to 1931
a) Paint work
Beautiful, subtle face and body painting.
b) Eyes
Glass eyes
c) Hair
Horse hair mane and tail
d) Tack
Leather padded saddle,
Blankets, Classic shape with angular pointed corners.
e) Stand
Beautiful turned pillars, but with indented collar.
Brackets,or hinges have three bolt/screw hole
Brackets sometimes have initials of company engraved on underside.
f) Thistle logo sometimes-included on front of martingale
LINES SPORTY BOY
Special G & J Lines Brothers model
More streamlined features on the head
Featured a removeable saddle and nailed on bridle
Fixed blanket
BRASSINGTON & COOKE (RARE)
Circa 1920
a) Body Shape
Forward facing head
Stocky body
Unusual profiled legs
(They used a Leeway carver)
b) Hair
real horse hair mane and tail
c) Tack
Leather saddle and padded saddle
d) Stand
Classic pillars, similar to Ayres.
Brackets, two pairs each end.
Horizontal rails, had rounded ends with cut out profile each end.
BARKER Of Birmingham
Circa 1890 to 1947
a) Body
vertical head
simple stocky body shape
shapeless straight uprightish legs.
b) Paint
basic Dappling
c) Tack
Leather padded saddle, no saddle block
d) Stand
Pillars, thin and un shapely
Horizontal rails had rounded ends
F.H AYRES Of London,
Circa 1864, to out break of First World War 1914
a) Shape
Finely carved and shape, with lovely intricate heads.
Heads often turned to one side.
b) Paintwork
Beautiful subtle Dappling, heads exquisitely painted.
c) Eyes
Glass eyes always used, beautifully painted and highlighted.
d) Hair
long horse hair used.
Dapple, light grey and brown being most
Used colours.
e) Tack
Real leather padded saddle
Bridles, made out of leather, occasionally removeable.
The blanket, or numna, made out of cotton edged in white braid.
Blanket cut out in square shape with slightly round corners.
f) Stand
Normally made from pine, with beautiful classic turned pillars.
Brackets, or hinges, have four bolt holes in each.
(Ayres horses were quite often mounted on bow rockers.)
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ReplyDeleterocking horse for toddler
Excellent post...I'm still going through it all to try and identify my horse. Every time I find something that seems to confirm a particular maker, I find another feature that suggests another. My problem is that my poor old thing has no hair or saddle so I am largely working on shape.
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI've saved a very poorly looking vintage rocking horse which someone has glued fur on. After removing I found that it had been very badly mended. I really need to know the make and era to put the old girl back to its original splendour. Can anyone help please
Do you know anything about the Happi Time rocking horses? I have an old one I'm repairing that has not got springs, just rockers.
ReplyDeleteWould it be possible for you to give me a rough value of my rocking horse
ReplyDeleteHello, I saw your Web page when I did a Google search. I’m interested if you could help me in determining if I have an actual antique rocking horse or if it is a replica. well shopping I just fell in love with it but I am truly hoping it is an antique and I wasn’t lied to. Anytime you can take in looking at these pictures would be most appreciated. I’m sure the tail has been replaced as I haven’t seen any with leather strips. Which I thought that when I bought the horse so I wasn’t upset by that. Thank you so much for your time…
ReplyDelete