The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-09
WhenKings
GoDriving
RoyalCoaches Elab-
crate and Costly,
but Last for Many
Generations

IT HE English royal coach OF state
. is an ancient and honorable
institution. This equipage was
Quilt In 1851, being first used at the
coronation of George III. Designed by
Sir William. Chambers, II is deemed
magnificent piece OF state furniture.
it weighs about four tons and its cost
was about s375,0oO.
Tho body IS supported by four tritons
and the coachmans footboard is large
shell surrounded by designs OF sea
plants. The design OF eight palm trees
laden with spells is emblematic of I'M
portant victories won by Great Britain.
On the roof are shown figures of
three boys adorned with flowers. These
represent the United Kingdom. and
they support the imperial crown on
their heads. In their hands they hold
the sceptre. sword of state and other
insignia of royalty. The panels of the
upper portion of the coach are OF
bevelled glass. the four lower of copper
painted in enamel
The wheels are in imitation of those
Of the triumphal chariots OF the
ancient Romans; the harness Is made
of red morocco leather with ornaments
of silver gilt, the reins being OF Grim
son silk and the saddles of crimson
velvet embroidered with gold.
The royal coach is not the only
SNOWY equipage that figures in British
state ceremonials. There is the Speak
or's state coach, said to be the oldest
carriage in England. but still disable.
. This coach was built in the eighteenth
century. The seat opposite the Speaker
Is occupied by the chaplain and train
bearer.
State carriages, which came to be
used in England about the middle OF
the sixteenth century. were introduced
from Germany. The first coach ever
made in England was ordered by the
Duke of Rutland in 1855. Sixty years
later they were in general use and
much rivalry existed with regard to
their splendor and the number OF
horses drawing them. In 1919 the Gle
brated Duke of Buckingham aston
ished London by appearing in a coach
tlrawn by six horses. and the Earl of
Northumberland, not to be outdone,
Immediately appeared in a coach
drawn by eight horses.
Toward the end OF the seventeenth
century the decoration OF state coaches
reached its highest degree of splendor.
The interior was lined with brocaded
silk or velvet; the wheels were also
most ornate; the nave was thickly en-
hossed; the spokes were shaped and
curved and rims carved or painted.
In the old days the carriages used
in connection with marriage oere-
oil oth in mn OnIfi
oence There is record of one built
in 1929 for the marriage OF the reign
ing Duke of Farnese with Princess
Margaret of Tuscany. The woodwork
was covered with chased and en-
bossed silver, and the interior lined
with crimson velvet and gold thread.
The roof was supported by eight sill
yer columns and upon this roof stood
eight cases, also OF silver, containing
lilies of the same metal in full relief
In the centre of the roof was placed
the design of a huge rose with silver
leaves; on the sides and back hung
curtains of crimson velvet embroid-
cred with silver lilies and gold leaves,
while at the top Of the standards, from
which the body of the carriage was
hung, were placed silver vases with
festoons of silver fruit.
The wheels and the pole were
plated with silver. The harness for
the six horses were covered with GRIM
son velvet and ebroidered with gold
and silver thread. 1t is said that this
coach cost $4,000 ounces OF silver and
that twenty-five of the best italian
workmen were employed on 1t for
two years.