Toy Stables with Horse, Baker’s Cart & Doll

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Depression Era

Circa 1930s | Australia

Unique and charming Depression era toy stables, horse, baker’s cart and doll from the 1930s. Charming example of a ‘make-do’ toy possibly lovingly created by a father for their child with what spare materials were on hand in those difficult economic and social times (see The Gen). This is an exceptional and rare example of Australian folk craft.

The pine stables, painted in Depression era green paint, comprise a two-level construction with original glass windows on the upper story. The stable doors open to reveal a fun horse hay feeder and drinking trough to the rear of the lower level. The hand-painted wooden horse, with a delightfully expressive face, includes functioning cast-iron wheels and a leather bridle. The red wooden baker’s cart, stencilled in yellow with ‘baker’ on each side, has functioning yellow wooden wagon wheels and a leather pull-harness.

The charming handmade baker’s doll has a painted face with blue eyes and a rosy complexion, auburn hair, original clothing and a leather satchel.

A truly exceptional collector’s piece of Australian history that is simply delightful.

DIMENSIONS: Stable height 67 cm, width 54 cm, and depth 34 cm; horse height 28 cm and width 23 cm; baker’s cart length 44 cm, height 22 cm, and width 20 cm; and doll length 27 cm.

CONDITION: Both the stables and the horse and cart are very lovingly preserved and cared for and are in excellent condition with wear commensurate with antique age and use of such objects. The stable is structurally sound with some loss and wear consistent with age. These all add to the history of the piece and wonder of the stories it could tell.

PROVENANCE & REFERENCES: Formerly part of the Hans and Romy Roeder collection, pre-eminent collecting pioneers and authorities on toys, dolls and teddy bears within the Australian toy collecting community. Baker’s cart and doll appear in Antique Dolls & Toys for Collectors, Romy Roeder, 1985, p. 60.

For an example of a doll house made from packing cases see The Powall family dollhouse ‘A Perfect Little House’ dolls house, at the Powerhouse Museum, Object Number 93/1/1 1938-1942. 

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THE GEN

“… the ‘make do’ spirit … (was) a vital force in the years of the Great Depression. In those years one publication, Makeshift, which described hundreds of packing case-creations, eventually became a veritable bible for poor home furniture makers. Published by the New Settlers’ League in Melbourne, its designs catered for every room of the home and extended to workshop fittings, farm equipment, domestic utensils and children’s toys.” (Memories: A Survey of Early Australian Furniture in the Collection of the Lord McAlpine of West Green, Australian City Properties Limited, 1990, p. 81)

This veritable bible, whose full title is Makeshifts And Other Home-Made Furniture and Utensils, was a booklet published in March 1925. It came about as a result of a two competitions held in 1923 and 1924 which generated over 1050 ideas for making do with what you had.

“It is not claimed that the booklet is in any sense complete. This applies more particularly to the Farm and Children’s Sections. On Australian farms, necessity has proved to be the mother of invention, and it will continue to be so. The booklet merely suggests the directions in which ingenuity of the settler and his wife may be applied.” (Makeshifts And Other Home-Made Furniture and Utensils, New Settlers League of Australia (Victorian Division), March 1925, p. 3)

“Always be content with what you have, but never be satisfied with yourself unless you are making the most of what you have,” a truism found in the introduction of Makeshifts we could all follow today. (Makeshifts And Other Home-Made Furniture and Utensils, New Settlers League of Australia (Victorian Division), March 1925, p. 3) You can read this wonderful booklet here. 

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