What does dappled mean on a horse?

How are rocking horses made?

Our New Classic Rocking Horses are made in exactly the same way today. Paintwork: After carving, the horse body was covered in several layers of gesso, a mixture of glue and whiting used for centuries by artists and gilders to give a hard, smooth surface to wood prior to painting.

How old is a Collinson Rocking Horse?

Look up old rocking horses on FACEBOOK for some ongoing chat. Collinson horses bridge old and new as they were made between 1836 and about 1990. The old ones are really lovely but rare; nearly all the ones seen today are the simply shaped and painted rocking horses made after 1950.

What is the earliest form of riding horse?

The earliest form of riding horse was a plain hobby horse with a crudely carved head stuck on a stick, perhaps also with a wheel at the end. It was this wheeled hobby horse, along with the traditional rocking cradle and the pull along tilting seat that are credited with the initial beginnings of the rocking horse.

Where are Collinsons rocking horses made?

Collinsons & Sons are one of Englands longest rocking horse manufacturers who were based in Liverpool.

How to identify a Collinson Rocking Horse?

Collinson rocking horses Collinson Collinson horses are some of the easiest to identify for several reasons: their popularity, their extremely consistent and distinctive appearance, and the fact that they were made until very recently.

What are Collinson horses made of?

The legs of Collinson horses are clearly different from many other English rocking horses. They are relatively thick with big feet because they are made of pine like the rest of the horse. Beech was used for legs by most makers as it is strong enough to support the horse and rider.

When were Collinson horses made?

Collinson horses bridge old and new as they were made between 1836 and about 1990. The old ones are really lovely but rare; nearly all the ones seen today are the simply shaped and painted rocking horses made after 1950.

Why was the rocking horse so popular?

Queen Victoria was a big fan of rocking horses, which contributed to them becoming increasingly popular. Wealthy families took pride in the toys they could afford their children, and during the 18 th and 19 th centuries, the popularity of the rocking horse grew as playing on them helped children prepare to ride real horses.

What is a rocking horse called?

• Rocking horses during the Georgian period were called “racers” and were created with necks stretched out as in a full gallop. By 1850, the horses were made with a more collected neck position and these horses called “jibbers” were universally accepted by manufacturers.

How much does it cost to restore a rocking horse?

Unfortunately it cannot be achieved quickly and cheaply – depending on the size, rocking horse restoration tends to be from £1,500-£2,000, however if total replacement of a stand is required it costs rather more.

Where was the Collinson Rocking Horse Factory?

The factory workshop was until 1993 located at Smithdown Road where thousands of Collinson rocking horses were produced since 1965. The horses were never marked until about 1981 when the maker’s name on a gold plate was first applied to the front of the stand base.

Where do Rocking Horses originate from?

Probably the longest-established English rocking horse maker, J. Collinson traces its roots back to Liverpool in 1836. The distinctive rocking horses were produced in large numbers over the years.

What does a Collinson rocking horse look like?

The early Collinsons rocking horses were nicely carved with flared nostrils, glass/wood eyes & turned upright posts to the stand. The dapples on these earlier horses were more subtle than that on the later period horses which were boldly dappled all over.

What is the difference between a Collinson and Collinson rocker?

The carving on the later Collinson horses is very simplified, particularly around the head. Old Collinson rockers are much harder to find and they can be very nice horses with detailed head and neck carving, glass eyes and turned pillars.

What Wood was used to make the Collinsons horses legs?

The wood used for making the Collinsons horses was pine, including their legs This meant that the legs to be made thicker for added strength, Other manufacturers such as F H Ayres or Lines would have used beech for their horses legs, enablng them to be made thinner as beech is a stronger wood.

Are Collinson rocking horses made by Johnson?

They became misleadingly known as ‘Johnson rocking horses’. The factory workshop was until 1993 located at Smithdown Road where thousands of Collinson rocking horses were produced since 1965. The horses were never marked until about 1981 when the maker’s name on a gold plate was first applied to the front of the stand base.

What’s the difference between Collinson’s and Johnson’s?

Earlier this century Collinson’s suppied the London stores, Harrods and Hamleys and sometime later an agent, Johnson, handled distribution of the horses from Nottingham. They became misleadingly known as ‘Johnson rocking horses’.

Can You restore a Collinson Rocking Horse?

Our Collinson rocking horse restorers bring experience and expertise to the craft of renovating your old favourite and offer refurbishment of Collinson antique and vintage rocking horses throughout most of the UK. We also offer Collinson rocking horses for sale and also buy unrestored examples.

What is a Collinsons Rocking Horse?

This Collinsons rocking horse has the bold dappling that they are reknowned for. Also the cordoroy & leatherette saddle, red brackets & swing irons and the typical diamand shaped pieces of wood on the top rail of the stand. This rocking horse was restored with dapples more subtle than it would have had originally.

Who made the most popular rocking horses?

Frederick Henry Ayres was the most popular English rocking horse maker in the Victorian era, and the rocking horses he made were both Bow Rockers and Marqua safety stands. Today, antique rocking horse collectors consider the toy horses made by this company the most sought after alongside its competitor (G.J Lines Ltd).

When did Collinsons start making Dapplegrey horses?

Queen Victoria visited the premises in 1851 and apparently the dapple grey was her favourite style. From this point on the Collinsons firm concentrated on making horses in dapplegrey.

What did the Rocking Horse teach children?

The rocking horse as we know it today was not like the rocking horse that children learned to ride a real horse on about 100 or more years ago. No those mechanical beasts were made to be ridden hard and fast. The rocking horse taught children balance.

How is the height of a Collinson horse measured?

Heights of the horse on the stand are traditionally measured (in inches, of course!) from the floor to the highest point. In the case of a Collinson, the highest point is the arch of the neck. Medium sized horses of 38″ or 40″ are very widespread, as are large horses of 46″ or 48″.