Hans Brockhage children cart

This rare swing cart was designed in 1951 by Hans Brockhage in collaboration with Erwin Andrea and produced by Gottfried Lenz in Germany. It is a dual-function piece that combines a children’s push cart and a rocking chair into a single versatile object through a reversible form. The design exemplifies postwar German innovation, emphasizing functionality and playful interaction within a minimal, dynamic structure.

The construction primarily employs bentwood and solid beech timber. The frame is a continuous arched form supporting a molded plywood seat and incorporates two ladder-like side elements that provide stability and grip. The curvature allows the piece to rock gently when flipped, transforming from a wheeled cart into a cradle-like rocker. The four wheels, painted in deep brown-red, are mounted on metal axles securely housed within the wooden framework.

The swing cart’s visual language is defined by geometric simplicity, refined proportions, and exposed mechanical details. The bentwood frame bears signs of hand-finishing with minimal hardware, reflecting early 1950s production and the Bauhaus-inspired emphasis on craftsmanship and material honesty.

Hans Brockhage (1925–2009), a Bauhaus-trained designer and student of Mart Stam, was known for incorporating play, motion, and user interaction into his designs. The swing cart, developed during his time at the Academy of Fine Arts in Dresden, is among his most notable works, featured in museum collections for its conceptual clarity and functional ingenuity.

The piece is in good vintage condition, exhibiting minor wear consistent with age and gentle use, including surface scuffs, edge nicks, and slight patina on the wood and wheels. The structure remains solid and fully functional.

Dimensions are 100 cm wide, 39 cm deep, and 38 cm high, approximately 39.4 inches wide, 15.4 inches deep, and 15 inches high.