Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Barker state chariot, England


An episode of Auction on the Living Channel featured this coach, previously owned by the Spencer family (of the late Lady Di), auctioned at Christie's last July for £133,250 including buyer's premium. You could get a late model Rolls Royce for that, so clearly this vehicle is held in high esteem.

The description on the Christe's website:

A George IV black-japanned and livery-painted state chariot
by Barker and Co., London, second quarter 19th century.


The rectangular body with two half-glazed doors with later coats-of-arms, with divided front window, the roof applied with four silvered brass coronets and the sides with six silvered brass crests with coronet and garter motto, with silvered door handles in the form of coronets flanked by feathers and acanthus scrolls, each side of the interior with triple folding mounting-steps and two forward-facing seats, the entire buttoned interior lined with padua red silk and hammer cloth, with small rear-view window, the black and red-painted frame with large C-spring suspension, the coachman's high seat with removable dished red baize-covered seat with fringed hangings and leather-covered footwell, with iron-rimmed spoked wooden wheels, with pole and two team bars, marked on each wheel hub 'BARKER & CO CHANDOS ST', the front with two cylindrical glazed carriage lanterns (one with damaged spring stem), the rear with four tasselled padua red sash hand-holds and a rounded rectangular black stand between the springs, losses and overall cracking to the decoration, the seats re-covered

87 in. (221 cm) high; 74 in. (189 cm) wide; 165 in. (420 cm) long, without pole
Rear wheels 51 in. (130 cm.) diameter
Front wheels 40 in. (102 cm.) diameter
Together with four sets of harness

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