About Antique Rocking Horses
A rocking horse is the beloved symbol of an idyllic childhood where boys and girls can gallop forever on the back of a trusted equine friend, forever chasing dreams. In one form or another, rocking horses have been entertaining children for hundreds of years. Despite their simplicity -- nothing talks, shakes, beeps or lights up -- children through the ages spent immeasurable hours playing with their trusted steeds.
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History
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From at least the 1600s, rocking horses have been a part of childhood. Some of the early examples looked much different than what we would expect today, constructed simply of wooden boards. Rocking horses' popularity rose in the 1800s when they began to resemble the sculpted creations we recognize today. These Victorian rocking horses were crafted by hand, but as the Industrial Revolution progressed, the rocking horse became a mass-produced item.
Features
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The features to look for in an antique rocking horse are the facial expressions, which should resemble a real horse just as the tail should, and the appropriate accessories. Accessories can include a leather saddle and bridle. Some earlier examples may feature cloth saddles. The condition of all these features will affect the value of antique rocking horses. Appraiser Dean Failey, an expert on toys and games who has appeared on PBS' "Antiques Roadshow," estimated most rocking horses would sell for a few hundred dollars, possibly as much as $300. The best of the best have sold for 10 times that much or more, to $3,500. The high-end rocking horses retain their original paint, accessories and horsehair.
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Geography
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The first known rocking horses were found in medieval Europe, according to historians, but records do not explain their purpose. The rocking horses could have been the children's toy we know today, or they could have been constructed as a teaching tool to prepare young riders for a real horse. About 200 years later New England artisans made popular styles that appeared more lifelike. England, specifically London, became the site of some of the most well-known craftsmen who established family businesses around the creation of the rocking horses.
Time Frame
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There were numerous creators, but several names stand out. F.H. Ayres of London was known for creating some of the best rocking horses for almost 80 years, beginning in 1864. The Lines family, also of London, established their company in 1850. Members of the family operated several companies until 1927, when the name changed to Triang. J. Collinsons and Sons began producing rocking horses in 1836.
Expert Insight
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Appraiser Dean Failey described the quest for an antique rocking horse as "almost looking for the impossible." Collectors want the real deal, a toy that was actually used and loved 100 years ago or longer. At the same time, however, the rocking horse should be in fairly good shape. In some cases, collectors want a more modern version, perhaps one that has a tie-in to the television shows of their youth, such as "The Lone Ranger." Some of the more modern horses do not actually rock on rockers. Instead they perch on a metal frame that allows riders to bounce. The difference in value between a rocking horse with no television tie-in and one with a tie-in could be as much as $300, with the tie-in fetching the higher price, according to Failey.
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