Mid-Century Modern Danish Hobby Horse

Up for auction is a rarely seen The Rocking Beauty Red Ball Hobby Horse.  This Eames Era creation was designed by Gloria Caranica in the mid-sixties for Creative Playthings of New Jersey at the height of the Modern Danish period.  This piece while originally designed as a child's rocking horse has now widely been accepted as a work of art representing that wonderful design era.  Examples of this piece have been duplicated over the years by other toy companies but never to the perfection of the original.  The reproductions run around $300 with shipping from special order sites or catalogs.  This is guaranteed to be a 1960's original and the condition is great.  A lot of people have made the mistake of redoing these over the year or having them refinished diminishing the value of one in original condition.  This is an unfinished piece and while I did clean it with a mild solution of Murphy's Oil Soap, nothing else has been done.  The piece was kind of wobbly when I obtained it but a tightening of the screws has brought this back to it's original stability.  The red ball is seperating slightly but could easily be glued and clamped to repair.  The ball is really the only part that shows the pieces age and should you want to you could match the paint and make that as good as new.  There is mild discoloration where a child's feet would have been while using the horse and slight rounding at the corners although I believe they were slightly rounded by design.  There is no separation of the veneer and overall I would say this is in Very Good-Excellent Vintage condition.  I would recommend that you Google Creative Playthings, Rocking Beauty or Gloria Caranica and research the piece.  It no longer sells as a child's toy but is considered a work of art retailing between $600-$1500 depending on condition.  I am really quite taken by the piece and therefore not willing to part with at a "discount price".  I will sell for less than full value but have set a reserve to establish the minimum I am willing to accept.  Shipping will be $30 and insurance will be included.  The piece measures 12x26x18.