When Horsey arrived at our workshop, he was looking very sad — but we knew we were going to have a lot of fun bringing him back to life!

He was extremely dry, with split joints, a loose top section and a very unstable structure. His back end was coming apart and the timber around the tail had deteriorated so badly that it came away in our hands.

A Complete Restoration

We carefully dismantled Horsey and cleaned up all the old joints before beginning the reassembly. Putting him back together was rather like tackling a giant three-dimensional jigsaw puzzle!

To make sure he was strong and stable, we reinforced a few key areas with discreet screws, carefully concealed with wooden plugs.

The tail needed more extensive work. The badly damaged timber was removed and replaced with new wood, into which the original tail was carefully fitted. The new section was then shaped and sculpted to blend naturally with the original timber.

Once Horsey was securely back together, all the new joints were sanded and smoothed, ready for the finishing process.

The Finishing Touches

Horsey then had a thorough clean to remove years of dust and old wax, revealing the beautiful character of the original wood.

Finally, it was time for staining and waxing. The transformation was remarkable — from a dry, unstable and badly damaged wooden horse to a handsome and majestic piece once again.

And just look at that tail!

Horsey was ready to gallop back home.

At Artabelle Furniture, we love taking on unusual and challenging restoration projects like this one. Whether it’s a carved wooden horse, a rocking horse or another much-loved wooden piece, we can repair structural damage, replace missing or deteriorated timber and carefully restore its character and finish.

Also, explore our work on Facebook and Instagram for our latest updates and projects, and visit our Pinterest page for inspiration, ideas, and a closer look at our craftsmanship and restorations.