Not currently on display at the V&A

Gigante Galoppa!

Toy Horse
1960s-1970s (manufactured)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The horse is of moulded plastic, reddish brown with black trim. Under each foot is a small brass wheel. The key bar protrudes from the right shoulder of the body which houses the clockwork mechanism. Around the middle of the body is a band of red and white plastic and a brown saddle shape with silvered stirrups covering the open allowing the movement of the horse. At the top of the saddle is a small yellow bar into which hooks the rider. When wound the horse's body opens and narrows at the middle forcing the back legs to appear to kick, this forces the horse along on its wheels.

The rider, representing a cowgirl, has a wire frame, the torso is covered with black PVC. Around the neck is a yellow PVC kerchief which matches the breeches. The belt is red plastic and the holster boots black. The hat is red felt. The head is a painted cloth face mask (in the style of the 1930s) with brown floss hair styled into a bun at the back. The hands are white felt. Between the legs is a small metal hook which fits into the top of the saddle to hold the doll on the horse. There is a gun of moulded yellow plastic

There is a box of card printed in colour to show the title, maker's name,l a photograph of the toy with a little boy, and on the sides illustrations of horses.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 4 parts.

  • Mechanical Toy
  • Mechanical Toy
  • Mechanical Toy
  • Mechanical Toy
TitleGigante Galoppa! (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Moulded plastic, with a metal clockwork mechanism
Brief description
Plastic clockwork horse with cowgirl rider made in Italy by Quercetti in the 1960s or 1970s
Physical description
The horse is of moulded plastic, reddish brown with black trim. Under each foot is a small brass wheel. The key bar protrudes from the right shoulder of the body which houses the clockwork mechanism. Around the middle of the body is a band of red and white plastic and a brown saddle shape with silvered stirrups covering the open allowing the movement of the horse. At the top of the saddle is a small yellow bar into which hooks the rider. When wound the horse's body opens and narrows at the middle forcing the back legs to appear to kick, this forces the horse along on its wheels.

The rider, representing a cowgirl, has a wire frame, the torso is covered with black PVC. Around the neck is a yellow PVC kerchief which matches the breeches. The belt is red plastic and the holster boots black. The hat is red felt. The head is a painted cloth face mask (in the style of the 1930s) with brown floss hair styled into a bun at the back. The hands are white felt. Between the legs is a small metal hook which fits into the top of the saddle to hold the doll on the horse. There is a gun of moulded yellow plastic

There is a box of card printed in colour to show the title, maker's name,l a photograph of the toy with a little boy, and on the sides illustrations of horses.
Dimensions
  • Height: 25.4cm
  • Length: 36.2cm
  • Depth: 3.25in
Production typeMass produced
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'Quercetti' (in script on box; key; cellophane bags)
  • Printed along the edge of one side of the box: 'Made in Italy Importe D'Italie Patent USA-Italy-France SGDG-Germany Applied For in Great Britain. Schweiz.Canada.Japan'
Subjects depicted
Collection
Accession number
B.209:1 to 4-1994

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Record createdApril 17, 2000
Record URL
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