Below are pictures of some of the rocking horses restored at The Rocking Horse Studio. In most cases, each restoration has been carried out in the most authentic manner we are capable of, doing our best to replicate the original styles these horses were originally finished in. Extensive research is undertaken to find out exactly what authentic finish for a particular horse was like. Each horse is thoroughly examined for structural soundness and sent out fit for many more years of enjoyment.

Pimpernel

Ayres "D Type", special extra carved

46"

Pimpernel had one missing ear and awful overpainting which, when gently removed, was found to be covering considerable original paint. This was conserved, then missing sections filled in to match.

A new ear was carved, stand was stripped and re-finished and the flaking ironwork rechromed. Although Pimpernel still had his saddle, he has gone on to be ridden again and we decided a sturdy new saddle was more suitable and he was fitted with replica tack.

Primrose

G&J Lines "No 21"

Circa 1910

Primrose had a previous restoration her owner was unhappy with so she came here to be redone.

She was stripped, epoxy ear was removed and re-carved in wood, then she was given new gesso and paint in a style more suitable to her and fitted with new tack in leather and vintage fabrics. We were able to find a scrap of her original colour, which is lighter than we've seen before. This was matched.

We considered replacing the newer parts of the stand to match the hardwood of the original pillars, but in the end retained it. It was stripped and stained rather than replaced. Metal fittings were stripped and re-finisheded.

Seigfried

Ayres "D Type", special extra carved

46"

There was not much wrong with Seigfried other than brown varnish on his stand and dead-looking paint. Someone had tried very hard to get it right and had done a pretty good job, but it was covering lovely original paint that was revealed and repaired, missing sections matched.

Replica tack supplied by Rocking Horse Elite

Magnus

Antique rocking horse by J&G Lines 1880-1890

43"

The badly broken stand was repaired and retained, with missing cross pieces replaced in reclaimed wood to blend in with original.

Shattered neck was cleared of rusting screws, nails and staples and repaired, missing jawwith tongue and ear tips were recarved.

A few fragments of remaining paint found under the grey showed us the positioning, colour and texture of dappling, which was copied as closely as possible. Magnus has deep antiquing to match his colour to the few fragments we found.

Although 43", Magnus off the stand is exactly the same size as the 46" D Type Ayres that is thought to be a copy of this model Lines horse. Height is often not everything!

Antique rocking horse by JR Smith

Antique rocking horse attributed to JR Smith

45"

This elegant horse had most gesso intact on the body, with enough traces of dappling to see the pattern and positioning. Gesso was retained and repaired, and reapplied where it was missing.

New paint was applied to original pattern and antiqued.

Tinkerbell

Roebuck Rocker Colt

21"

It was very difficult to see the appeal of the ugly duckling at right: with crude, heavy bows and ghastly paint.

Tinkerbell has a new lease of life with modified existing bows, rather than replaced. She has new paint and harness in the style of the original.

Valentine

Extra carved antique rocking horse attributed to Baby Carriages

52"

This spectacular horse came in looking rather poorly but sound and has been given a makeover. "Pink!" (or purple) - was the request so this was accommodated as much as possible to appeal to his new four-year-old rider but in a way that hopefully won't be outgrown.

Denny

No 3 Bartlett

There was nothing much the matter with Denny other than typical cracking and awful paint.

Fully restored in 2012 to recreate original paint style, harness was made on original Bartlett pattern but with custom hand-dyed leathers according to the owner's wishes.

Legolas

39" Bow rocker made by J&G Lines circa 1890.

This restoration was a special honour as Legolas's owner is a long-time collector and a restorer herself.

Legolas went home "naked" as his owner wished to fit his harness at home.

Many, many thanks to Michael Egan for his help in fitting legs while hands were short.

Jemima

Roebuck No 3 circa 1910

Fully restored 2012. All that remained of the stand was the hoof rails and metalwork, a new stand that is a replica of original was built in Kauri pine to match the remaining original wood.

Jemima's dappling is done by hand in authentic style, we were very fortunate to have good clear photos of what her paint would have looked like when she was new, along with Georgie to work from directly. We have two Roebucks available that would look similar after restoration.

Lilac

No 3 Roebuck

WWII era

Horse fell apart when strapping was removed, extensive damage to most panels discovered was repaired.

Rotten pieces of stand were replaced.

Freya

No 4 Bartlett

Stand was partially replaced in kauri pine to match remaining pieces. The horse had no original paint left so it was stripped, new gesso applied and paint was copied directly from an identical horse with paint intact we were fortunate enough to be able to borrow for reference.

Sixpence

G&J Lines "No 21 Type" circa 1900-1910, 44"

Sixpence is very similar to the "Celebration Hobby Horse" on page 88 of Patricia Mullins' book, on which her restoration was modelled.

She arrived in very shabby but structurally sound condition, however all that remained of her stand was metalwork and distinctive "paddle" hoof rails. The remainder is a replica.

Edmund

Lines Sportiboy, "Edmund" was in such poor condition when he arrived that at first we didn't even realise what he was. Edmund had suffered some serious damage and had to be pulled apart to repair broken pieces and fit new limbs. After repairs Edmund was painted in G&J Lines style (not strictly accurate but he has such a strong Lines look about him it was irresistible). New tack, with removable saddle, is a replica of what he would have had originally.

All that remains of Edmund's original stand is the swing irons and bowler hats, he came with only hoof rails which unfortunately were too damaged by woodworm to reuse, the rest was lost years ago.