What items are classed as victorian equestrian decor?

The category includes oil paintings of horses and hunt scenes, framed racing prints, and carved wooden rocking horses. It also covers utilitarian objects like cast iron doorstops, brass horns, and leather hunting whips. These pieces reflect 19th-century sporting life, using materials such as wood, brass, leather, and pottery to bring animal and stable motifs into the home.

How were horse brasses used?

Horse brasses were decorative and protective brass plaques mounted on leather straps across the chests or heads of heavy draught horses. They caught the eye and were believed to ward off evil. Today, collectors find them mounted on leather martingales or displayed individually as wall hangings.

Are rocking horses from this period functional?

Nineteenth-century rocking horses were built on solid wooden stands or original rockers to withstand active play by children. Many retain their original paint, horsehair manes, and leather tack. While some owners allow children to ride sturdy antique models, others preserve them as decorative centrepieces in nurseries or living spaces.

How do I identify period paintings?

Period paintings of horses typically feature canvas stretched over wooden frames, signed by artists who specialised in sporting art or animal portraits. Look for the handling of oil on canvas, stable backgrounds, and costume details that place the work in the 19th century. Many works document specific named horses, races, or hunts, offering historical context through inscriptions or accompanying records.

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Victorian Equestrian Decor

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Victorian equestrian decor brings the character of the 19th-century stable, hunt, and racecourse directly into a room through art and utilitarian objects.