Sitting proudly in our showroom is our replica of what is believed to be the first ever Rocking Horse, built for Charles I before he became King in 1625. As a child he had rickets and wore callipers on his legs. It is believed that this horse was developed to build his strength. Rocking Horses went to be well loved toys within the Royal Family, including the late Queen Elizabeth who was a collector of Rocking Horses or all shapes and styles.
The original Rocking Horse is now on display in the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. We made this replica (shown above) in 2007, using traditional techniques just as the original would have been made in the early 1600’s. Also shown is a modern day version, made using modern laminated materials for strength and ease of life.
However we think we may have found the worlds oldest Rocking Horse! David White from New Zealand emailed us these pictures of his recently completed Rocking Horse, made exclusively from native timbers. The bows are made from Rimu, which grows on the South Island of New Zealand, which is a distinctly versatile and beautiful timber, the horse however is made from ancient Kauri. The trees when carbon dated are between 40,000 – 45,000 years old! After being flattened by a natural disaster they fell into the peat swaps which has perfectly preserved the timber, making it the oldest usable timber in the world.
When we spoke to David, he explained “it (the timber) is extremely dry and hard. I learnt gouges were useless and I was more a stone mason then carver. It was very easy to split down the grain with the lightest tap, and dusty and quite white when sanded smooth. I used a wood oil and wax to treat it and it drank the brush dry, but the finish is amazing. You can almost see into the wood with the light on it.”
I think it is fair to say there will not be another one like it! David is now looking forward to attempting something simpler! Thank you for sending us this fascinating story David!
Remember, our shop is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, we are always happy to offer tours for those hoping to learn more about the History of Rocking Horses.
Find out more about The Rocking Horse Shop Ltd on their member profile page here
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