Hand-painted Old Jointed Wooden Horse antique garden tool likely 1880s or so

likely 1880s or so

which I’d guess dates from the 40s or 50s

which I believe dates to late 1940s or early 50s

and all lovingly bordered with flowers and leaves and birds and flourishes and "forget me nots"

Hand-painted Old Jointed Wooden Horse antique garden tool likely 1880s or soThere are no holes to suggest this horse ever hung from strings, and with his front legs jointed at the knees he can't stand up straight (though he will balance on his own if resting on a knee) so I'm not entirely sure what this very sweet old horse was made for, though now I think I might mount him on the wall balanced on a few strategically placed nails. The white details of the face (including smiling mouth) mane and tale were hand painted on top