Antique Rocking Horse

This Old Thing — Batty lamp fixture valued at $1000

Q. This unusual bat fixture hung in the front hall of my grandparent’s home in Peterborough.

The house dates back to 1870, but I’m not sure if the fixture was original to the house. In any case, it was in the house from the 1930s to the 1970s. The fixture is brass-plated and has no identifying marks. The bat measures 53 centimetres (21 inches) wing tip to wing tip and 56 cm (22 inches) from top to bottom.

When the light is on, it casts a large winged shadow on the ceiling. None of the family wants to use the fixture in their homes, nor does anyone want to part with it. We would appreciate any information about its age, place of manufacture and current price.

— Betty, Peterborough

A. Because so many people have a bat phobia, it is easy to understand why your relatives do not want to use this ceiling fixture. But any enthusiast of the rare and wondrous would be thrilled to own this piece.

Your fixture could have been made by a German lamp manufacturer Franz Stubgen, a specialist in metal items, including lamps. His company logo, a Fledermaus (the German word for “bat”), was registered 1892. But I suspect it’s more likely this fixture was made in the United States in the early 1900s. There’s a close reproduction of this lamp available today.

Your lamp would have a shade covering the light bulb and a suitable one from the period could be found easily. The fact your bat light is the original, functioning and a delightful conversation piece adds up to a sure value of $1,000-plus.

Q. I am sending photos of a mirror purchased 50 years ago at an antique sale. I’m sure I didn’t spend more than $25. I never replaced the mirror portion and it doesn’t clean up. The metal of the frame is soft which makes me believe it could be sterling, but I don’t see any markings. It is 30 cm (12 inches) long. I’m interested in its history.

— Judy, Toronto

A. Up until the mid-1600s glass mirrors were quite scarce and only the very wealthy could afford them. From then on, hand mirrors have been made in many styles and materials, including wood, pewter, jet and plastic.

You’re quite right that sterling is soft and prone to denting. But I’m seeing copper highlights, so that makes me think your mirror is silver-plated copper, which is generally called Sheffield. Probably this mirror was part of a dresser set that included a brush, comb and manicure implements. Its Rococo styling featuring a female face, cupids playing pan flutes, and scrolls and flowers is typical of the Rococo and Neo-classical motifs popular, in Continental Europe, throughout the 19th century.

Antique German Rocking Horse | Philco Engine

Wooden rocking horses are traditional playthings and decorative items for our houses. They lend our homes a traditional as well as an antique look. They are used as a piece of furniture as well.

The Importance Of Wood Rocking Horses

The trend of wood rocking horses is not just a passing fashion. They have been with us for decades and decades. They will be a furnishing material always. They are not to be treated like a toy that is to be played with for sometime and removed to some corner later.

These are moving equipments that sway to and fro. People give them names to identify them. They are wonderful pieces of creation. They are in your houses so that you can ride upon them, jump to small heights with them and love them.

They are not always traditional things. There are several kinds of rockers. Wooden rocking horses are available in the market that is designed especially for children. Some are big enough to accommodate adults as well.

They Are Excellent Gift Items

These have always been regarded as precious gifts. They will be counted like that always. They are things that can be carried on by families’ generation after generation. They are meant to be preserved because they are wonderful items that will never become monotonous.

You will love to play with them whenever you are relaxing and loitering about in your homes.

These toys are much better than plastic toys because they are not fragile like them. These will last really long. They are not destroyed by mishandling. But, if you want the beauty of the horse to remain intact, take good care of it.

A Little About The History Of Rocking Horses

These were first made by an American named Albert Schoenhut. He was of German origin. He was a master craftsman in not only creating wooden horses. He made several wooden dolls and also designed several wooden animals.

The dolls that were made were a favorite of girls and the boys liked to play with the horses. These were a sort of difficult to create. They were carved out intricately. They were painted and made very attractive.

The parts were fixed to each other by sophisticated joints. There were manes attached to the horses. Boys used to fantasize that they are riding real horses and derive a lot of pleasure. These rocking horses also had eyes made of glasses; their tails were made of real hair.

They were made of wood and this made them very strong. They were long lasting and the consumers were satisfied with these rocking horses. Boys have changed their toys to speeding cars, but still rocking horses have their own value, even today.

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