Meet the quietest member of our stable. This little horse was not cast in a mold or stamped out by a machine. Somebody built him by hand, one piece of metal at a time, and every seam still shows where it was joined.
Take a slow walk around him and you can read how he was made. The body is shaped from hand-formed sheet metal, curved into a round belly and a proud, arched neck, then soldered together along visible seams. The mane is scored with fine parallel lines, the knees are little domed caps, and each hoof is its own neat cone. A wire bridle wraps his nose and cheeks, and a thin strap crosses his chest, edged with tiny ornamental scrolls.
A horse dressed for the road
Look at his back and you’ll find a saddle cloth draped over his side, with a small round saddle perched on top. The pose is a lovely one: head lifted, one foreleg stepping forward, tail swinging behind him. It recalls the famous Tang-style horses of China, the elegant, well-fed steeds that have inspired artists for more than a thousand years, though our fellow was clearly shaped by a metalworker’s hands rather than a potter’s.
The finish has softened over the years into a warm, silvery patina, with hints of gold and copper showing through where the light hits the curves. That wear is part of his charm. A horse like this looks right at home on a bookshelf, a mantel, or a desk, where people will pick him up just to see how he was put together.
Handmade pieces like this one have a way of finding the right person. Come meet him in person at Pollyanna’s Antiques, 287 North Avenue in downtown Mt. Clemens. We’re open Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, 10 to 4, and he is standing still, patiently waiting for you.