Wooden Rocking Horses For Sale

Wooden Rocking Horses – A Brief History

Rocking horses, in some form or style, are believed to have been around since ancient Greece and Egypt. The wooden rocking horse, as a toy for children, can be traced reliably back to the 17th Century in England. (In case you're curious, we made the distinction in the previous sentence of "as a toy for children" because knights of the Middle Ages were know to practice on large, wheeled wooden horses.)

In America, the wooden rocking horse didn’t become a well known child’s toy until the 18th century. Its popularity was greatly increased in 1877 when P.J. Marqua of Cincinatti, OH invented a safer, more secure base for rocking horses. Before this time, rocking horses had been made to "ride" on bow rockers. Mr. Marqua designed a new type of base that allowed for a fixed frame on which the toy swung on swing irons. This new type of stand not only required less space for the toy – traditional bow rockers scooted forward as the child rocked and played – it was more stable and safer to use. Mr. Marqua was granted a patent for his design in 1878.

What That Stuff Means...

In any eBay auction, you might see a lot of strange shorthand in the titles and descriptions. You might also see words or expressions that you don't know the exact meaning for, either. Below are a few definitions to help you out.

NIB - New in box

BNIB - Brand new in box (same thing as NIB, really, but some folks like to be different!)

Buy It Now - Stops the auction, and the wooden rocking horse or other item is sold at the Buy It Now price

Contemporary - Newer, not an antique

Gently Used or Gently Loved - Another way of saying Like New, below

Like New - This is a nice way of saying the wooden rocking horse is used. However, this is often where really great deals are found. Read the item description carefully, and if the seller has an excellent feedback rating and claims the rocking horse is like new, it probably is.

Used - Most eBay sellers hate to use the word "used" if they could have honestly have described the rocking horse in more flattering terms such as "like new." So, if a wooden rocking horse on eBay is described as used, you can expect some obvious wear and possible minor damage. However, this can also mean you can get a great deal.

Vintage - According to the dictionary "vintage" is supposed to mean "Characterized by excellence, maturity, and enduring appeal; classic." This is pretty much how honest eBay sellers use the term, too. "Vintage," when used by an honest seller, means the wooden rocking horse is old but in good condition. You should expect a certain amount of wear that adds to its charm, but you shouldn't expect anything to be seriously damaged.

Some eBay sellers, though, use the term "vintage" a bit too loosely. When any wooden rocking horse on eBay is described as vintage, read the description carefully, study the photographs closely, check the seller's feedback rating, and if you have any questions ask them before your bid or buy.