Painted wooden rocking horse hand made in New York in about 1959

A rocking horse, made using various shapes of wooden planks nailed together. The head and neck are formed from two pieces to give the curve of the neck; the body a flat plank cut into an blunt teardrop shape. The body is mounted on four straight legs, which in turn are mounted on a flat plank nailed to the rockers. On the body towards the rear is an upright with two curved side panels to form a seat back. The rockers are semi-circular and solid pieces of wood painted black. The mane and tail are added to the horse and are made from lengths of thick black wool. The horse is painted white with large black spots, and the eyes are shaped with black paint. It may have been repainted but is in good condition. There are traces of red paint on the rockers which may or may not indicate that these have been repainted or that the wood was originally red before being up into the rocking horse. The reins are formed from two very long red boot laces; knotted together and hooked through a loop on each side of the nose.

Given by Lady Campbell

It was made by Marion Campbell while attending a progressive school in New York; possibly Brearley School. She made the horse about 1959/60 for Helen who was born in 1958.

The family served in the diplomatic corps; (New York, China and Poland were the main places). The daughters, Marion born 1948, Louise born 1950 and Helen born 1958, acquired many toys from various countries.

Made by the donor's eldest daughter, Marion (born 1948), for her younger sister, Helen (born 1958).

This rocking horse is unusual in that it was made by a young girl attending a progressive school in New York in 1959-60. It was made for a younger sibling who was born in 1958. It is made of roughly cut blocks of wood nailed together and painted in bright colours.

B.898-1993