The carriage as a spectacle in itself

Watercolor of ceremonial sleigh
The carriage as a spectacle in itself
Le Guide du Carrossier (Paris ca. 1880-1900). Album of 47 maquettes of fancy carriages
and sleds, including one water color of a ceremonial “traineau”* ; the others printed in
lithographs and carefully hand-colored (some heighted with gold or silver). A few signed
by Lagard*2.
The finished maquettes were reproduced in the monthly issues Le Guide du carrossier
et les équipages à Paris, Revue de la construction des voitures et des automobiles
(1880-1900) *3 . The publisher was Brice Thomas *4.
These illustrations picture examples of excessively decorated luxury carriages (carrosse
France, Luxuswagenbau. Germany) driven by wealthy Europeans in an era before the
automobile . The album includes six highly decorated sleds (traineau. France; schlittern.
Germany). The watercolor “traineau” unsigned, from the early 19th century, is essentially
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a ceremonial sleigh used by the wealthy society to appear in a winter festival. The sled
is modeled on a baroque style of traineau shaped as a slipper, decorated with cupids.
Not only are the maquettes beautiful in their own right, but they are clearer and sharper
than the final photographs that would appear in the semi-monthly periodical.
Before the automobile was invented , horse and cart were necessary but could also be a
luxurious means of transportation. Driving in the private carriage unfolded in the 19th
century as never before and sparked a boom in Luxuswagenbau. New wealthy strata of
society at that time developed a large mobility and need for representation. (Furger.
Introduction)
Notes:
*1. The ceremonial traîneau was first created as a means of winter sporting for the
pleasure of the European royalty and aristocracy in the 17th and 18th century. Far from
having a purely utilitarian purpose, these fabulous vehicles were used throughout Europe
in parades and races. “Parade sleighs came into fashion in the Renaissance and remained
in vogue until the French Revolution.” No expense was spared in the construction of
sleighs, which were executed by leading court artists and sculptors, and no detail was
overlooked, as even the upholstery and blankets were lavishly decorated and the horses
were outfitted with silver, feathers, and jewels … A further interesting aspect of 18th
century “traîneau culture” was that it enhanced the woman’s role in court ceremony…the
occupant of the sleigh would be female “the real center of the event was the lady…in which
she displays in the most magnificent attire her wealth and beauty…the head covered with
diamonds…she appears as a Venus in her vehicle, and is conscious of the admiration of
thousands of people.” (Hobbs)
*2 Lagard, Luce André (Lagarde ?) was an important designer of carriages, especially for
Le Guide du Carrossier, 66 Rue Abbatucci, Paris, France. He was awarded the Class XIV.
The Hub Medal of Merit," for best design and working drawing of a One-horse Cab adapted
for public use in cities.” (Hub, 1880)
*3 Le Guide du Carrossier later La Carrosserie française : publication spéciale traitant
de la construction des voitures et de la sellerie-harnais: paraissant tous les deux mois.
1859-1913. Montly, bi-monthly
Le Guide du Carrossier described and pictured luxury carriages as well as vehicles for
transport and public service. It employed carefully drawn illustrations with practical
information followed by dimensional measurements for all necessary parts to major
construction including énchantillons. It printed details for painting saddlery and harnesses,
and it recounted the historical and commercial history of the different body types. The
carriages were drawn to scale in outlines, shaded in black and printed in colors (as here).
*4 Thomas, Brice (Pierre-Brice-Marc-Antoine Thomas) was born in Friaize , a small town
of Eure et Loire ( 28) , July 16, 1820. From the age of 13, apprenticed to a cooper as a
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wheelwright. He was a mechanic during the early Tours de France. Called to military
service, he served in the artillery and learned elementary and descriptive geometry,
mathematics and industrial design,
According to an article in The Hub, In 1858, Thomas founded Guide du Carrossier as
well as a school for the instruction of young men who were ambitious to occupy responsible
positions within the carriage and later automobile manufacturers. He is author of Traité de
menuiserie en voitures,..[Privatedly printed: 1870] (Hub, 1913).
Reference:
Furger, Andres:Kutschen Europas des 19. und 20. Jahrhunderts, Band 1: EquipagenHandbuch. Mit einem Vorwort von Heinz Scheidel,Verlag: Olms Verlag, 2009
Hobbs: http://carltonhobbs.com/portfolio-items/a-magnificent-rococo-polychrome-andgiltwood-traineau-in-the-form-of-a-rearing-dragon-retaining-its-original-decoration/
The The Automotive Manufacturer, Volume 21, 1880. P.365
The Hub. The Automotive Manufacturer, Volume 55, April 1913. P.11
Note: A number of 18th and 19th century sleighs of Dutch, German and French origin are
now preserved in the Musée des Carrosses of Versailles and the Musée National de la
Voiture et du Tourisme in Compiège See, for example:
http://en.chateauversailles.fr/news-/events/expositions/versailles-a-arras-en
$7,500.00
See below for a few illustrations. Send for full details.
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[Fancy French, 18th century carriages, in the English style] 14 etchings worked with
engravings, “P.P. Choiffard Direx”. Paris Chereau (ca. 1770)
14 prints of fancy carriages. Each 15" x 8" to plate marks. With large margins 17 ½" x 11 ½" .
Very clean with pin holes in left margin, occasional marginal soiling. Each etching pictures the
carriage from the side and back views; together with a scematic of the undercarriage, its parts
identified by alphabetical order. To the left of the carriage is a list that identifies the parts,
(Renvoi du Plan). Custom cloth clamshell case (18" x 12") with leather label.
Present:
Série A: Cahier de Six Diligences à la Francoise :
Two from the series each handcolored
Série B: Cahier de Six Diligences à Angloise :
The complete series of six
Série D: Cahier de Six Berlines à l'Angloise :
The complete series of six
---Not present :
Série C: Cahier de Six Berlines à la Francoise :
Série E: Cahier de Six Berlines et de diligences de parade, ornés de sculptures et de peintures :
1 oclc location DKDLA noting Fransk tekst/ Berl. Kat. 1430, nothing author as Janel
$2,250.00
From BNF:
: Modèles de voitures d'époque Louis XV [Ressource électronique] / Jean-François Chopard ;
[direction éditoriale, Françoise Juhel,...] ; [direction scientifique, Marie-Laure Prévost,...]
BnF Estampes, Inventaire du fonds français, graveurs du XVIIIe siècle / par Marcel Roux, 1940,
Tome IV, Cathelin - Cochin Père (Charles-Nicolas), p. 492-493
Choffard, Pierre-Phillipe (designer and engraver. 1730-1809)
Publisher: Chéreau, Jacques-François (1742-1794
Chopard, J. F.
Chopard, Jean François
Chopard, Jean-François (graveur)
Chopart, J. F.
Chopart, Jean François
Chopart, Jean-François (graveur)
Dates:
17..-17.
Kinds of vehicles
Berlines
Cabriolets
Calèches
Carrosses
Coches
Diligences
Fiacres
Véhicules attelés
Voitures à cheval
Voitures à chevaux
Voitures hippomobiles