Rocking horse
Haddon Rockers
Category
Toys
Date
circa 1880 - circa 1890
Materials
Wood
Measurements
1050 mm (height); 390 mm (width); 1815 mm (length)
Place of origin
Wallingford
Order this imageCollection
Sudbury Hall Museum of Childhood, Derbyshire
NT 671328
Summary
An 'extra carved' wooden 'bow' type rocking horse (circa 1880 to circa 1890) painted a rich brown with a red-brown horse hair mane and tail. The horse has a metal plate which bears the name 'Haddon Rockers', England, however, because of this plate the horse was originally dated to circa 1971 to 1975. It is now thought that the horse was restored in the early 1970s by Haddon Rockers and is in fact a late 19th century example of a bow rocking horse. There may be some letters marked on the base of the decking which will give a clue to the exact date of it's manufacture. The main and tail appear to be replacements and would have originally been cow hair and the body has been crudely over painted. There is evidence of pommel holes underneath the saddle and the saddle appears to be a replacement. It has an open red mouth showing white painted teeth, red painted nostrils and black painted hooves. It has transparent plastic eyes with black pupils. On its back is an upholstered brown leather saddle with red and green trim. Both the saddle and the trim are riveted in place. On its head is a brown leather bridle and harness. The horse is riveted to the green painted rockers. In the centre of the rockers is a rectangular plate. There is a turned stretcher, also painted green, between the rockers at both the front and back. Cord is attached on the underside of the rockers.
Marks and inscriptions
On a metal plate attached to rectangular plate on the rockers : 'HADDON ROCKERS/ MAKERS AND RESTORERS/ WALLINGFORD 36165/ OXFORDSHIRE, ENGLAND.'
Makers and roles
Haddon Rockers , maker