You know those things that you see in magazines and spot in antique stores and pine after and always keep in the back of your mind? Well, one of those things for me has been an antique rocking horse. I’ve seen a few in magazine homes, perched on an elegant buffet or the top of a French armoire. A child’s toy turned art.
I’ve had my eye on one in an antique store for months. I always dismissed it, thinking it was just too expensive. Yesterday, while shopping for things for the open house, my gaze landed on the familiar horse that I have loved and dismissed at least a dozen times. It was the same price and the tag read “firm”, so I doubted it would be reduced any time soon. Or ever. Today, though, it didn’t seem that expensive. On a whim, I asked one of the women behind the counter to get it down, so I could have a closer look at it. Once it was on the floor and I could see the worn leather seat, slightly pealed away showing straw stuffing, The warmth of the chippy red paint and detail of the dapple gray was perfection.
I pushed it gently with my finger and it began to sway in the stand, just as it must’ve done hundreds of times to the delight of small children. I felt giddy about it and the thought of putting that horse back up on the shelf was not one I wanted to entertain. “I’ll take it.” The proclamation made it official in my mind and I carried it up to the counter to add to my pile.
I resolved that I would sell it. It would look amazing in my room at Lucketts for the holiday open house. I knew I could make a profit on it.
Then, I got it home. I set it in our home office to tie a tag on it and add it to the pile. When I was cleaning this afternoon, I couldn’t resist sitting it on the curio in my living room. I love the playfulness, warmth, history and a bit of quirk it brings to the space.
Now that it’s here, I’m not sure I can sell it.
I think I’m just going to leave it there and enjoy it for now and then see how I feel about it in a week and a half. To ensure I don’t get attached to it, I will not give it a name.
Somehow I don’t think that strategy will work.
68 Responses
It adds so much character and personality to the room – I haven't seen one quite like it. I'd hang onto it – until you are ready to let it go! Selling is always a future option! Love the colors.
Don't sell it! What a great story! It would look great with some fresh holly for the holiday! Make it your gift to yourself …just because 🙂
I find that sometimes pieces just need love, and you have to keep them in your home for a while and love them. Then after a period of undetermined time it's easier to let them go. Suddenly they seem to say, ok, I've had enough love, I can go to a new home now. Good luck with loving the gorgeous little rocking pony.
Yup…I agree. It look waaay too good on top of your curio, Marian. 🙂 Merry Christmas to you! lol!
xoxo laurie
I think you're going to have to keep that one! That looks great there:)
I so wish I could make the trip to your open house. I just love your room at Lucketts. And I'd love to do some antique shopping in your neck of the woods! I think you have better stuff than we have in Ohio!
Love it! I have a vintage red wooden rocking horse my grandmother gave me, she always told me that my father used to ride it when he was a little boy. I can remember riding on it when I was a child and now my children enjoy it and can still ride it!
~ Rachael
He looks quite at home already….wonderful purchase….
ellery
medusarossa@hotmail.com
Oh, what a beauty…it joins your cow, I love the colors and how it just seems to belong there…enjoy and how wonderful he would be at christmas.
he's a keeper! i have a few childrens horses, too. just can't get rid of them! they are so nostalgic and fun! looks awesome on your curio, marian!
mary
How lovely it will look at your house for the holidays! Some greenery around the base oooohhh just beautiful! You work allll the time, give yourself a gift!
To ensure I don't get attached to it, I will not give it a name.
ha!
Call it "Entrapment"
Pat
Oh your horse is just beautiful! Sometimes you see something and you just have to have it! Don't sell it!
-Lynn
So sweet! So, do your boys bug you to let them ride in it? I know mine would 😉
If you do sell it, I hope you let them each take 1 gentle ride.
Brittany
it looks just adorable. You have to keep it for at least a little while. You've wanted it for a long time. Enjoy it.
Keep that baby! Love it for as long as you can!
I think you need to hang onto him for awhile….. looks purty cute up there 😉
I have not seen anything like this. Very cool. How neat that you can bring it home and enjoy it, and still have the option of selling it. It would be a great accessory for my vintage Christmas theme.
I would keep that little charmer and call him Bullseye.
Oh the decorating for holidays and what you could do with that treasure!!
It's a blogging expenditure: great excuse! I use it all the time. 🙂 Dobbin. My grandfather said he used to say, "Giddy-yup, Dobbin" to drive the horses. Dobbin. 🙂 There, now you HAVE to keep him.
It's name is Rocky because he is a rocking horse and is a very very sweet little fellow.
I love it… I have wanted one forever. I have never seen one in person, only magazines.. How old do you think "he" is??
Un jouet enfin qui a une âme…
Gros bisous
I used to decorate with rocking horses.. I had five large enough to ride and some smaller ones. They have all the personality of larger toys, (Dolls houses, large bears, vintage pull-along tucks, you know the kind of thing) and a grace and beauty it's difficult to find elsewhere. Your horse there, with its scuffs and its chips, has obviously galloped a long way to come and rest on your curio cabinet. I think you should use it to its advantage for your Christmas display at Lucketts, but price it a little steep.
It's a wonderful little team of horses to have around the house…and every girl should have a horse (or two).
I love what Pat (Corn in My Coffee-Pot) said…Hmmm…To name or not to name, that is the question? Good Luck finding the right answer!
You simply CAN'T sell it- I have already named it Old Paint…and he is perfect in your room! Perfect, I tell ya, Perfect! Love it…you can sell it years from now. I can see it a Christmas with some little packages spilling out the top! xo Diana
She is a beauty you need to keep her as payment for all your dedication and hard work to your business!
Better pick out a name.
He's a keeper. He's so unique. No one will walk in your home and say "Oh I have that same horse in my dining room too."
Kathy
KEEP IT!!!!! I read your blog DAILY & rarely comment but I feel the need to today. Miss Mustard Seed, you deserve this gift! Enjoy it for years & if you ever grow tired of it, you are in the lucky position to be able to sell it easily!
What I want to know is how do you keep the boys off of it????
Dad
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Keep it!
To my new owner
Thank you, thank you, thank you for finally getting me out of the store. I'm so loving being in your home. I already feel the love. I read your blog introducing me to the blog world and I really enjoyed reading it, BUT I really need a name cause I LOOK amazing in your home.
Talk to you later,
Your kicking cool rocking horse
I think that you should keep it! What a wonderful piece that has been perfectly aged with a patina that evokes the thoughts of little children smiling as they rocked the hours away. Sometimes I find those special pieces that just have to live with me for awhile before I convince myself that they should move on – and then sometimes come the regrets of selling those wonderful gems.
Becky
You have to keep him! If you've been loving him from afar for this long and he was still there, it was meant to be. You deserve to treat yourself every once in a while anyway! Just consider it an early Christmas present. That's what I always tell myself;)
Oh, do put him in your Christmas displays at Luckett's, but be sure to put a tag: NFS = not for sale!!! Somethings you just have to keep for yourself. I have a red and green vintage rocking horse that I've been carting around and displaying for years – it's not for sale either.
Judy Beatty, Houston, Texas
Your rule is, if you do not have the perfect place, then you have to sell it. You certainly have the perfect place for this lovely rocky horse. It adds alot to your room.
Carol
I adore it! That is just the thing that I'm also looking for to put up on my 1860 Quebec armoire in the living room. That, or an old weathervane horse =)
Almost every year about this time, finances allowing, I decide what will be my "indulgence present" to myself. It can't be practical….well, you know, like useful in an everyday way. It has to speak to my inner child, my secret self, the lover of whimsy and beauty. Money isn't a consideration, I've made payments for months, or paid from the $'s in my pocket. What counts is that warm smiley feeling I get when I look at it, hold it, wear it, share it with others. So I understand your rocking horse :)) What a beauty! I'm sure you will know when to pass it on, and who to pass it to.
Thank you, for your beautiful blog, and your inspiration. You Rock!
Cim
It's one-of-a-kind. Don't. Sell. It. Just think how cute it will look in your house at Christmastime…and all year 'round.
I know I wouldn't be able to sell it. I have always wanted one of those too. If I ever found one I could afford, it would be mine forever 🙂
if wishes were horses, all gentlemen would ride, if you clean your plate, you'll feel better inside…Oh my..I had forgotten that until you posted it…My Mom made a place-mat that said that for me when I was a very young girl… ..Thank you for the happy memory..
Wow, MMS, you're really rockin' it this week!
OH NO! Make it stop! Make it stop!!!
Affectionately, Gwen
I can see your boys jumping up and down, begging for a ride! At least my kids would have, years ago! It's lovely, no matter where it ends up!
What a wonderful touch of whimsey, and just look at that craftsmanship! I can just see a father from long ago, crafting this wonderful rocking horse for his lovely children. Cutting each piece just so, everything has to fit just right, then painting it with beautiful colors. Perhaps it greeted them, peeking out from under the Christmas tree, I can just hear the squeals of joy; this is a wonderful treasure, if it goes to Market, I would love to give it a place in my home. It looks adorable atop your curio, you really have a talent and a good eye for these beautiful treasures:)
I would have a hard time selling it if it were mine! It's absolutely lovely!
I say "keep it!". 🙂
I think you're doing the right thing. I so often have trouble parting with items I love. What has been proven to me over and over is that if you keep something for a while and just "own it", you will not regret parting with it down the road. So keep it for a while and you'll be ready to let it go without regrets. It works for me.
Antiques appreciate with age, right? So by that theory, he'll be worth more NEXT year, right? So you shouldn't think about selling until next year. Maybe. And, you can include him in the holiday photoshoots for the future! And come on, admit it… You already secretly have a name picked out, don't ya? 🙂
Oh Marian,
Sometimes we just need to surround ourselves with those things that inspire us and make our heart sing. I hope you will stop thinking of reasons to let go of the Rocking Horse and just enjoy everything about "him"….You work sooo hard and in some odd way when you win, we win…
Thanks for sharing and it really is beautiful and unusual. I have never seen a Rocking Horse like that!
Blessings,
Debbie
DON'T SELL IT! I am telling you! I reluctantly listed a dresser this week that I was so in love with. I didn't want to sell it so I priced it high…it sold in an hour and I cried loading it into the car! Yes, it's all earthly possession BUT how often do you actually keep something?! If you love it, hang on to it!!
Your dreams are mine too! A rocking horse and a vintage dolls house…. What more could a girl want? I think 'Dobbin' (for that has to be his name) is there to stay… Happy Christmas! x
Très beaux chevaux à bascule!
Cela doit être rare! Je n'en ai jamais vu des semblables!
Have a good day!
Davvero affascinante, unico nel suo genere. Don't sell it, it's your own dream comes true. Buona Giornata.
I love it!! So beautiful! I know I wouldn't be able to sell it at all!!
So good luck!
Hugs
SueAnn
It's a unique piece you will probably never find another. I say KEEP it!! Will look great at Christmas! JUDY
For what my advice is worth…here it is. Keep it. It is a gift TO YOURSELF for all the hard you work you put into Miss Mustard Seed. In my mind, selling it would be an abomination. Sell something of equal value that you don't have such an emotional connection to. It's lovely.
Keep it! I love it on the curio!
I've travelled into the future and I know that you're talking about a "name that horse" giveaway…lol. I think he's found his forever home. He's perfect!
You may not be calling it by name, but it called you. I think the horsey was made for that spot….at least for a little while. ;^)
Love the horse!
He looks amazing perched up there.
Love the horse….I'd make a pattern for future use. New materials, distressed like Dobbin … I LIKE that name… =) No damage to the original, and you wouldn't be worried to let kids rock away on it…just a thought. And I liked what All About Vignettes said.
I am so glad you decided to keep the horse. It looks great and fits just right where you have placed it!! Looks like it has been so loved over the years too! One of my favorite little Christmas decs is a very small painted wooden horse decked out in Christmas colors. i like putting it out every year at the holidays cause it takes me back to childhood holidays of the past. I could never part with it. I hope you enjoy your proudly displayed horse!! I am a new follower to this blog and i want you to know i really look forward to it everyday.;)
I'm reading backwards and catching up on your posts…I won't spoil but I know a secret! 🙂
This is a true treasure and I can't believe you resisted as long as you did. It's perfect and fabulous and breathtaking. KEEP IT!!!!
Don't sell it – unless of course you sell it to me – I can just see it in my home across the pond….! x
If wishes were horses… beggars would ride! My mom has said this forever, and I never hear anyone else utter those words. It’s a little running joke in my family — beggars, horses, riding – Whatever! I always thought that if I had a blog/website, this would be in a box called “my mother’s wisdom”. I’m working on getting that started, and thank you for the inspiration. Love your easy going style and thanks for “talking” to me! jj – aka The House of Juliet:)
Lovin’ that horse Marian!
Too cute.
I can tell you right now…. I could not give it up.
It looks fantastic on your breakfront display case!
xox
Alison