Exercise 'horse', Hildburghausen, Germany, 1870-1930

Made:
1870-1930 in Hildburghausen
maker:
Holzwarenfabrik
Germany exercise horse, late 19th-early 20th century Germany exercise horse, late 19th-early 20th century Germany exercise horse, late 19th-early 20th century

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Germany exercise horse, late 19th-early 20th century
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Germany exercise horse, late 19th-early 20th century
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Germany exercise horse, late 19th-early 20th century
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

German exercise horse, late 19th-early 20th century

A user straddled an exercise ‘horse’ much like riding a horse. The apparatus is made of wood with a sprung leather ‘saddle’ and handlebars at the front. Using it built the muscles and stamina. It was also a form of physiotherapy, treating medical conditions by targeting muscle groups.

The chair was made in Germany between 1870 and 1930. There was growing interest in improving health through physical fitness during the late 1800s. This saw many mechanical exercise machines developed.

Details

Category:
Therapeutics
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A69185
Materials:
frame, wood, seat, leather, cloth, black and seat, felt, red
Measurements:
overall: 1120 mm x 410 mm x 790 mm,
type:
exercise chair