Large Professionally Restored Antique Ayres Rocking Horse on Stand, Side Saddle

This is a fully restored, genuine antique rocking horse, not a modern toy. It is a large Ayres horse, Edwardian or late Victorian - I have included the smaller Ayres horse, which I am also listing this week, in the pictures, so that you can compare the two. Please read the description in full, and don't hesitate to contact me with any questions. This is a large Ayres rocking horse, on a traditional swing stand. It measures 38 inches from ears to tail, 48  inches from ears to ground, and with the stand measuring 57 inches long at the base. Please note the size - it is very large and heavy!  It was restored by my husband, Alan Lees, who was widely known as a restorer and rocking horse maker, here in Scotland, some years ago. He worked on dozens of old horses and also sculpted a great many new ones which have now become collector's items. Ayres were the 'Rolls Royce' of horses and this is a very unusual specimen in that it has a 'side saddle' which can be adjusted to suit either side. Due to its age and value, it should be treated with care. 

It has been re-gessoed, with the traditional covering, and then hand dappled, very beautifully. Please note, however, that this gesso covering always gets some fine cracks - it is a very old fashioned material, and when the wood shifts underneath, due to central heating, or an unusually damp or dry spell, the gesso will crack a little. These cracks are normal, and should be left alone. There was a little damage on this one, sustained since Alan first restored it, but it has now been completely repaired. Some fine cracks remain, but they come and go, and are quite normal for this kind of horse.

The mane and tail are real chestnut horsehair, the stand has been restored, and the fitted saddle rebuilt by hand. The saddlery is all leather and hand done and the swing stand and swing irons have also been restored. It has a pair of small  stirrups. Alan worked on this a number of years ago - it has his trademark 'rose leaf' on the stand - and now it has come back to us for resale. The stand, horse and swing irons are original, but the gesso coating, paintwork, saddlery, mane and tail have all been replaced. He is a rare horse of real character and very beautiful - everyone who has seen him loves him - an heirloom for sure.

Due to the size and weight, this is sold on a 'buyer collect' basis only. Please contact me for further details.

NB, I should point out that this can be removed from its stand for transport (and reassembled very easily.) This is how we always used to carry them. It will then fit into the back of a reasonably sized hatchback with the back seats down - we've carried it in a Honda Jazz, for instance.