Carriage Foundation
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Listed in 1 collection
Listed at 1 museum
Listed for 1 maker
Quick Details
Carriage Type
Children's Carriage
Date of Production
mid 19th century
Accession or Inventory Number
T8739
Materials used
Paint, Wood, IronSummary of Children's Carriage
A children's carriage with a vis-à-vis seat for two and a tiller for steering.
Children’s carriages were sometimes based on larger carriages that were within the family collection. This example has a tiller for steering at the front, an older child would have had hours of fun pulling their younger siblings, friends or relatives around an estate garden
Full description
The design of Children’s Carriages was very often based on the full sized version within the family carriage collection. This example is loosely based on a Landau or a Vis-à-vis with two seats facing each other and a footwell. At the back is an unusual feature of a sword case. The body is simply constructed with plain panel sides. There are no doors, it is likely that very small children rode in this carriage and they would have been lifted into it.
The body is rather crudely bolted to the fore carriage via a piece of wood that has a rounded end and chamfered edges. A narrow draw bar sits on top of the futchells to which the tiller is fixed. The tiller has a shaped wooden handle which shows many hours of being used. Across the entire fore carriage is what was once some rather fine carving, scroll ends and chamfered edges. A think black paint covers the carriage, hiding its fine details.
The carriage is sprung on elliptic springs at the front and back. The off side rear spring is missing. At the front are 8 spoke, iron tyred wheels with 10 spoke wheels at the back with common axles.
There are glimmers of a once fine little carriage here. It has over the years been stripped of any upholstery and covered in a really thick substance like gesso and then painted black.
Inscriptions
There are no inscriptions on this carriage.
Condition report
The carriage is missing its offside rear spring, otherwise all of the structural components are present. Covered in a thick black substance which has chipped off in numerous places revealing a nicely carved undercarriage. The upholstered seats are missing.
Access information
This Children's Carriage is in the care of Bristol Musuems
M Shed
Princes Wharf
Wapping Rd
Bristol
BS1 4RN
Tel: 0117 352 6600
Picture credit
Bristol Museum / Amy Bracey