A Royal play thing
23rd September 2024A toy gig believed to have been used by generations of British royalty is expected to make up to £3,000 when it comes under the hammer in Salisbury next month.
The regal pushchair (lot 457) features a wicker seat mounted on three wheels and ‘drawn’ by a pair of galloping dappled horses. Reputedly, it belonged to Queen Victoria at Osborne House and would have been used by her youngest grandchildren and her great-grandchildren, including two future kings of England. Photographs in the Royal Collection from c.1897-99 show a young Prince Edward (later Edward VIII) and Prince Albert (later George VI) riding in an identical gig.
The pushchair comes up for sale at Woolley and Wallis in Salisbury as part of the contents of The Grange, Wendover. Furniture specialist, Mark Yuan-Richards, explained it had been in the vendor’s family for upwards of half a century.
“It was purchased in the 1960s from an elderly couple who had been retainers at Osborne House. Our vendor remembers seeing a photograph of Queen Victoria beside the gig, but that was not passed on at the time of purchase. It’s exciting to think that it was probably the plaything of two men who went on to change the course of the British monarchy.”
The gig is of a type made by George and Joseph Lines – two brothers who specialised in finely crafted wooden toys, carts and prams. Three of Joseph Lines’ sons went on to form Line Bros Ltd, who ran the iconic Tri-Ang Toy brand during the 20th century. Queen Victoria is known to have purchased other pieces from the Lines brothers, and her favourite dappled grey horse is understood to have influenced the decoration of rocking horses during the latter years of her reign.
“Early toys of this type are highly desirable by collectors,” continued Yuan-Richards. “They represent a shift from small, domestic toy-makers to the larger, more commercial manufacturers that went on to own brands such as Dinky, Meccano and Hornby. The added connection to the Royal Family, and the significance this holds can only add to its appeal.”
The toy gig carries a pre-sale estimate of £2,000-3,000 when it comes up for auction on 2nd October.