Hughes Auctions
Live Auction

Modern Art & Design

Sun, Jun 5, 2022 10:00AM EDT
Lot 168

Gloria Caranica (1931) Rocking Beauty Hobby Horse for Creative Playthings, Inc.

Estimate: $400 - $600

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $10
$200 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $250
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$20,000 $2,000
$50,000 $5,000
$100,000 $10,000
$500,000 $50,000
In the past, this child’s rocking horse was often attributed to the influential American architect Philip Johnson. However, recent scholarship has revealed this to be a half-truth. In fact, it was the idea of another Philip Johnson, artistic director of the toy company Creative Playthings. He suggested it to Gloria Caranica, a recent graduate of Brooklyn’s Pratt Institute he had just hired.
Source: https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/179869

Inspired a child’s imagination with this unique toy! Very minor crack on bottom. Slight discoloration on knob. Made of Plywood, solid wood, pigment. On inside of rectangular wooden stop on bottom, impressed Co. logo at proper right: "CREATIVE/PLAYTHINGS/PRINCETON NJ" Approx. dimensions: 19.5 in. H x 25 in. W x 12 in. D. Weight: 6.2 lbs.
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