How old is my rocking horse?

Dating relies upon construction methods, the shape of the carved wooden body and the style of the paint finish. Evidence from nineteenth and twentieth-century examples shows shifts in maker stamps, mounting stands and materials over time.

Who made these rocking horses?

British workshops such as Ayres, Lines and Collinsons produced many of the substantial rocking horses found today. Numerous other pieces remain unsigned products of regional joinery shops and specialist toy makers.

Are they safe for children?

Antique rocking horses are primarily decorative objects or collector pieces rather than modern safety-tested toys. Heavy wooden construction and rigid rockers mean they require supervision if used by young children today.

Pine served as the primary timber for carving the large bodies of these horses. Additional woods such as ash or oak often formed the structural rockers and supporting frames.