What is a Victorian rocking horse?

A Victorian rocking horse is a child’s toy produced during the Victorian era, which refers to the years of the reign of Queen Victoria of England, 1837 to 1901. Prior to the industrialization that took shape during the 19th century, which allowed these structures to be mass-produced, rocking horses were hand-carved in wood and hand-painted to resemble a horse. Two rockers, mirroring those of modern rocking chairs, are attached to the horse’s legs, and when a child sits on the seat, the horse gently rocks back and forth. On 1stDibs, find a collection of antique rocking horses.

What is the purpose of a rocking horse?

Rocking horses have long been favorite toys for children all over. These fun toys also help with balance and mobility, while encouraging exercise. It’s no wonder that both children and their parents are so taken with these toys. Shop a collection of rocking horses from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.

What year was the rocking horse invented?

No one knows the exact year that the rocking horse was invented, but they first appeared in early 17th century Europe. On 1stDibs, you’ll find a collection of antique and modern rocking horses from some of the world’s top sellers.

How can you tell a Collinson rocking horse?

To tell if a rocking horse is a Collinson, look at the pillar on its safety stand. Authentic pieces will usually have square pillars with wooden diamonds on top. The iron swings that allow the horse to rock were often red on genuine Collinson designs. However, an antique rocking horse may have been repainted, so the color you see might not be the original. A certified appraiser or knowledgeable antiques dealer can assist you with identifying rocking horses. Shop a range of rocking horses on 1stDibs.

How can you tell if a rocking horse is an antique?

To tell if a rocking horse is antique, first look for a label or mark that indicates the manufacturer’s name. Some makers of antique rocking horses include F.H. Ayers, Collinsons & Sons, G & J Lines, Crossley Brothers and Stevenson Brothers. If you're unable to find a maker's mark, you may wish to enlist the help of a certified appraiser or antiques dealer who is knowledgeable about rocking horses. Shop a variety of rocking horses on 1stDibs.

What were Victorian rocking horses made of?

Traditionally, Victorian rocking horses are made of solid wood. Designed to withstand wear and tear over time, Victorian rocking horses are often crafted with a high-quality wood, such as solid oak. Browse a selection of vintage Victorian rocking horses on 1stDibs.

Danish Rocking Horse

Rare Dolls

Rock Stool

Danish Wood Toys

Scandinavian Childrens Furniture

1970s Rocking Horse in Solid Pine Wood, Children’s Toy

$1,289

H 25.6 in W 39.38 in D 13.78 in

1970s Rocking Horse in Solid Pine Wood, Children’s Toy

Located in Beerse, VAN

What can I say. A rocking horse. Who doesn’t appreciate a piece of children’s toy that is so

Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Children's Furniture

Materials

Pine

Magnus Olesen, 40 Year Anniversary Rocking Horse in Elm Tree, Danish Design

$800

H 19.3 in W 20.87 in D 9.85 in

Magnus Olesen, 40 Year Anniversary Rocking Horse in Elm Tree, Danish Design

Located in København, Copenhagen

Magnus Olesen. 40 year anniversary rocking horse in elm tree. Danish design, dated 1977. In very

Category

Vintage 1970s Danish Scandinavian Modern Children's Furniture

Materials

Wood

Recent Sales

Mid-Century Modern Danish Rocking Horse with Wicker Rattan Seat

Unavailable

H 21.5 in W 29.75 in D 18.5 in

Mid-Century Modern Danish Rocking Horse with Wicker Rattan Seat

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Beautiful Mid-Century Modern Danish rocking horse with wicker rattan seat and bamboo.

Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Toys and Dolls

Materials

Bamboo

Rocking Horse, Denmark, 1970s

Unavailable

H 28.35 in W 10.63 in D 39.38 in

Rocking Horse, Denmark, 1970s

Located in Berkhamsted, GB

Danish rocking horse in beech with newly turned sapele hand grips, Denmark, 1970s.

Category

Vintage 1970s Danish Scandinavian Modern Children's Furniture

Materials

Beech

Modernist Rocking Horse from Denmark

Unavailable

H 36 in W 50 in D 11.3 in

Modernist Rocking Horse from Denmark

Located in Los Angeles, CA

rocking horse combines "folk" and "modern" most satisfyingly.

Category

Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Toys and Dolls

Materials

Rope, Pine

Kay Bojesen Rocking Horse, 1960s Denmark

Sold

H 18.51 in W 9.45 in D 30.32 in

Kay Bojesen Rocking Horse, 1960s Denmark

By Kay Bojesen

Located in Balen, BE

Vintage original Kay Bojesen rocking horse. Made from solid beech with a lacquered finish. Stamped

Category

Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Children's Furniture

Materials

Beech

Kay Bojesen Danish design Wooden Rocking Horse, Denmark, 1936

Sold

H 20.08 in W 33.47 in D 9.06 in

Kay Bojesen Danish design Wooden Rocking Horse, Denmark, 1936

By Kay Bojesen

Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland

opinion this is exactly the way you would want the horse to look like. The rocking legs have beautiful

Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Children's Furniture

Materials

Beech

Midcentury Kay Bojesen Beech Rocking Horse, Denmark, 1936

Sold

H 20.08 in W 33.47 in D 9.06 in

Midcentury Kay Bojesen Beech Rocking Horse, Denmark, 1936

By Kay Bojesen

Located in Utrecht, NL

Lacquered beech rocking horse made and marked by Kay Bojesen, Mønsterbesk, Denmark, 1936, and

Category

Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Children's Furniture

Materials

Beech

Original Vintage Danish Midcentury Kay Bojesen Wooden Rocking Horse

Sold

H 18.51 in W 30.32 in D 9.45 in

Original Vintage Danish Midcentury Kay Bojesen Wooden Rocking Horse

By Kay Bojesen

Located in Stow on the Wold, GB

Original vintage Kay Bojesen rocking horse. Made from solid beech with a lacquered finish. Stamped

Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Children's Furniture

Materials

Beech

19th Century Rocking Horse

Sold

H 25.6 in W 45.28 in D 15.75 in

19th Century Rocking Horse

Located in Haddonfield, NJ

Painted, very lovely wooden Rocking Horse with real horsehair from around 1850

Category

Antique 19th Century Danish Folk Art Toys and Dolls

Materials

Wood

Original Vintage Danish Midcentury Kay Bojesen Wooden Rocking Horse, 1960s

Sold

H 18.51 in W 29.14 in D 9.45 in

Original Vintage Danish Midcentury Kay Bojesen Wooden Rocking Horse, 1960s

By Kay Bojesen

Located in Stow on the Wold, GB

Original vintage Kay Bojesen rocking horse. Made from solid beech with a lacquered finish. Stamped

Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Children's Furniture

Materials

Beech

Original Vintage Danish Midcentury Kay Bojesen Wooden Rocking Horse, 1960s

Sold

H 18.51 in W 29.14 in D 9.45 in

Original Vintage Danish Midcentury Kay Bojesen Wooden Rocking Horse, 1960s

By Kay Bojesen

Located in Stow on the Wold, GB

Original vintage Kay Bojesen rocking horse. Made from solid beech with a lacquered finish. Stamped

Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Children's Furniture

Materials

Beech

Scandinavian Vintage Rocking Horse in wood by Kay Bojesen, Denmark, 1950s

Sold

H 17.33 in W 28.75 in D 8.67 in

Scandinavian Vintage Rocking Horse in wood by Kay Bojesen, Denmark, 1950s

By Kay Bojesen, Kay Bojesen

Located in Brussels, Brussels

Scandinavian children's rocking horse designed by Kay Bojesen in 1936. The design is appealing

Category

Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Children's Furniture

Materials

Beech

Fantastic and Rare Child's Rocking Horse by Kay Bojesen, Denmark, circa 1940

Sold

H 19 in W 8 in D 28 in

Fantastic and Rare Child's Rocking Horse by Kay Bojesen, Denmark, circa 1940

By Kay Bojesen

Located in New York, NY

Fantastic and rare child's rocking horse by Kay Bojesen, Denmark, circa 1940. Carved from beechwood

Category

Vintage 1940s Danish Mid-Century Modern Toys and Dolls

Materials

Beech

Original 1960s Vintage Kay Bojesen Rocking Horse

Sold

H 17.33 in W 28.75 in D 8.67 in

Original 1960s Vintage Kay Bojesen Rocking Horse

By Kay Bojesen

Located in Stow on the Wold, GB

Original vintage Kay Bojesen rocking horse. 1960s edition, made from solid Beech with a lacquered

Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Children's Furniture

Vintage Kay Bojesen Rocking Horse from the 1930s

Sold

H 17.33 in W 26.78 in D 11.03 in

Vintage Kay Bojesen Rocking Horse from the 1930s

By Kay Bojesen

Located in Odense, DK

One of Danish designer Kay Bojensen´s most famous designs is this toy rocking horse in beech from

Category

Vintage 1930s Danish Scandinavian Modern Toys and Dolls

Materials

Beech

Magnus Olesen 1977 Jubilee Rocking Horse and Stool in Elm

Sold

H 19.3 in Dm 23.23 in

Magnus Olesen 1977 Jubilee Rocking Horse and Stool in Elm

Located in København, Copenhagen

Magnus Olesen 1977 Jubilee rocking horse and stool in elm. In good condition, little wear mainly

Category

Vintage 1970s Danish Scandinavian Modern More Furniture and Collectibles

Kay Bojesen. A patinated lacquered beech rocking horse. Stamped Kay Bojesen

Sold

H 20.08 in W 11.82 in D 33.86 in

Kay Bojesen. A patinated lacquered beech rocking horse. Stamped Kay Bojesen

Located in København, Copenhagen

Kay Bojesen: born Copenhagen 1886, died Gentofte 1958. A patinated lacquered beech rocking horse

Category

20th Century Danish More Furniture and Collectibles

Kay Bojesen Large Rocking Horse of Patinated Lacquered Beech "The Arab"

Sold

H 27.56 in W 43.31 in D 13.78 in

Kay Bojesen Large Rocking Horse of Patinated Lacquered Beech "The Arab"

By Kay Bojesen

Located in Odense, DK

Very rare and large edition of Danish designer Kay Bojesen´s iconic and beloved children’s rocking

Category

Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Toys and Dolls

Materials

Beech

Danish Rocking Horse from Den Permanente

Sold

H 37 in W 12.5 in D 48 in

Danish Rocking Horse from Den Permanente

By Den Permanente

Located in Chicago, IL

Danish Rocking Horse from Den Permanente, Copenhagen. 1960c. Interactive by pulling strings for

Category

Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Vintage Pine Rocking Horse from Denmark

Sold

H 22.84 in W 29.53 in D 14.97 in

Vintage Pine Rocking Horse from Denmark

Located in London, GB

A rare original mid-century rocking horse. Leather handle and 'tail'. Denmark, c1970s. Good

Category

Vintage 1970s Danish Mid-Century Modern Children's Furniture

Materials

Pine

Vintage Danish Kai Bojesen Style Rocking Horse

Sold

H 21 in W 25 in D 7 in

Vintage Danish Kai Bojesen Style Rocking Horse

By Kay Bojesen

Located in Haddonfield, NJ

Vintage Kai Bojesen Style Rocking Horse. The child's rocking horse is in classic Danish clean and

Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Children's Furniture

Materials

Wood

Mid Century Rocking Horse

Sold

Mid Century Rocking Horse

Located in San Francisco, CA

Whimsical mid century Danish rocking horse

Category

Vintage 1950s Danish Toys and Dolls

Materials

Wood

Danish Modern Rocking Horse

Sold

Danish Modern Rocking Horse

Located in St. Louis, MO

Rattan rocking horse with a cane seat as an abstract sculpture. Swedish-made, late 1950s to early

Category

Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Toys and Dolls

1950s Danish Children's Rocking Horse

Sold

H 24 in W 25 in D 15 in

1950s Danish Children's Rocking Horse

Located in San Francisco, CA

Danish child's rocker with a touch of Jeff Koons thrown in.

Category

Vintage 1950s Danish Toys and Dolls

Materials

Wood, Rope

Danish Folk Art Painted Rocking Horse

Sold

H 17 in W 28 in

Danish Folk Art Painted Rocking Horse

Located in Hudson, NY

Danish Blue Painted Carved Wood Rocking Horse. Circa 1900s-30s.

Category

Danish Folk Art Toys

Materials

Paint

Kay Bojesen Child’s Rocking Horse, Denmark, 1960s

Sold

H 17.72 in W 8.67 in D 29.14 in

Kay Bojesen Child’s Rocking Horse, Denmark, 1960s

By Kay Bojesen

Located in Berkhamsted, GB

Original vintage Kay Bojesen rocking horse, Denmark, 1960s. Solid Beech. Stamped Kay Bojesen

Category

Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Toys and Dolls

Materials

Beech

Kay Bojesen Child’s Rocking Horse, Denmark, 1960s

Sold

H 17.72 in W 8.67 in D 29.14 in

Kay Bojesen Child’s Rocking Horse, Denmark, 1960s

By Kay Bojesen

Located in Berkhamsted, GB

Original vintage Kay Bojesen rocking horse, Denmark, 1960s. Solid Beech. Stamped Kay Bojesen

Category

Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Children's Furniture

Materials

Beech

Danish 1960s Beech Rocking Horse by Kaj Bojesen

Sold

H 22 in W 33 in D 9.5 in

Danish 1960s Beech Rocking Horse by Kaj Bojesen

By Kay Bojesen

Located in Hudson, NY

Signed with Impressed Manufactuer's Mark to the Underside Kay Bojesen, Copyright Denmark.

Category

Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Toys and Dolls

Rocking Horse by Kay Bojesen

Sold

H 18.51 in W 33.86 in

Rocking Horse by Kay Bojesen

Located in Courbevoie, Hauts de Seine

Icon of Scandinavian design, the rocking horse by Kay Bojesen entertains children around the world

Category

Vintage 1930s Danish Toys and Dolls

Life Size Rocking Horse Llama

Sold

H 43 in W 41 in D 16 in

Life Size Rocking Horse Llama

Located in Hudson, NY

a wonderful and exotic life size rocking horse Llama, with a beautifully sculpted walnut head

Category

Vintage 1970s Danish Toys and Dolls

Materials

Wood, Faux Fur

Vintage solid beech rocking horse by Kay Bojesen

Sold

H 21 in W 33.5 in D 9.25 in

Vintage solid beech rocking horse by Kay Bojesen

By Kay Bojesen

Located in New York, NY

Original solid beech rocking horse by Kay Bojesen. He is famous for his wooden animals and this

Category

20th Century Danish Toys

Unusual and Finely Made Canework Child's Rocking Horse

Sold

H 25.2 in W 38.59 in D 18.9 in

Unusual and Finely Made Canework Child's Rocking Horse

Located in Babworth, Retford

The bamboo body bound with rattan and supported by a rocking base, Denmark, circa 1950s.

Category

Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Toys

Materials

Bamboo, Cane, Rattan

Carved Black Horse

Sold

H 29.5 in W 37 in D 7 in

Carved Black Horse

Located in Sheffield, MA

Carved black rocking horse, Denmark circa 1880, in prancing pose. Well-loved leather ears

Category

Antique 19th Century Danish Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood

Modernist Danish Rocking Horse

Sold

H 21 in W 29.5 in D 18.5 in

Modernist Danish Rocking Horse

Located in Pittsburgh, PA

Danish rocking horse constructed of rattan and bound with caning.

Category

Vintage 1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Rocking Chairs

Materials

Cane, Rattan

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Danish Rocking Horse For Sale on 1stDibs

With a vast inventory of beautiful furniture at 1stDibs, we’ve got just the Danish rocking horse you’re looking for. Each Danish rocking horse for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using wood, beech and hardwood. Whether you’re looking for an older or newer Danish rocking horse, there are earlier versions available from the 19th Century and newer variations made as recently as the 20th Century. When you’re browsing for the right Danish rocking horse, those designed in Mid-Century Modern, Scandinavian Modern and Folk Art styles are of considerable interest. A well-made Danish rocking horse has long been a part of the offerings for many furniture designers and manufacturers, but those produced by Kay Bojesen are consistently popular.

How Much is a Danish Rocking Horse?

A Danish rocking horse can differ in price owing to various characteristics — the average selling price 1stDibs is $1,133, while the lowest priced sells for $599 and the highest can go for as much as $7,700.

Questions About Danish Rocking Horse

What is a Victorian rocking horse?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMay 5, 2023
A Victorian rocking horse is a child’s toy produced during the Victorian era, which refers to the years of the reign of Queen Victoria of England, 1837 to 1901. Prior to the industrialization that took shape during the 19th century, which allowed these structures to be mass-produced, rocking horses were hand-carved in wood and hand-painted to resemble a horse. Two rockers, mirroring those of modern rocking chairs, are attached to the horse’s legs, and when a child sits on the seat, the horse gently rocks back and forth. On 1stDibs, find a collection of antique rocking horses.
What is the purpose of a rocking horse?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
Rocking horses have long been favorite toys for children all over. These fun toys also help with balance and mobility, while encouraging exercise. It’s no wonder that both children and their parents are so taken with these toys. Shop a collection of rocking horses from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
What year was the rocking horse invented?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
No one knows the exact year that the rocking horse was invented, but they first appeared in early 17th century Europe. On 1stDibs, you’ll find a collection of antique and modern rocking horses from some of the world’s top sellers.
How can you tell a Collinson rocking horse?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 3, 2023
To tell if a rocking horse is a Collinson, look at the pillar on its safety stand. Authentic pieces will usually have square pillars with wooden diamonds on top. The iron swings that allow the horse to rock were often red on genuine Collinson designs. However, an antique rocking horse may have been repainted, so the color you see might not be the original. A certified appraiser or knowledgeable antiques dealer can assist you with identifying rocking horses. Shop a range of rocking horses on 1stDibs.
How can you tell if a rocking horse is an antique?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertJune 15, 2023
To tell if a rocking horse is antique, first look for a label or mark that indicates the manufacturer’s name. Some makers of antique rocking horses include F.H. Ayers, Collinsons & Sons, G & J Lines, Crossley Brothers and Stevenson Brothers. If you're unable to find a maker's mark, you may wish to enlist the help of a certified appraiser or antiques dealer who is knowledgeable about rocking horses. Shop a variety of rocking horses on 1stDibs.
What were Victorian rocking horses made of?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
Traditionally, Victorian rocking horses are made of solid wood. Designed to withstand wear and tear over time, Victorian rocking horses are often crafted with a high-quality wood, such as solid oak. Browse a selection of vintage Victorian rocking horses on 1stDibs.

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