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Maine Antique Digest, May 2015 9-D
- FEATURE -
B
onhams are a major presence
in the world of car sales and
this year will hold 20 auctions in
London, New York, Hong Kong
and elsewhere, but on March
7 they looked back to an older
mode of travel and held their
first ever carriage auction—held
in their Oxford salerooms.
A single private collection of
Victorian carriages and associ-
ated material—lamps, harness
and traces, post horns, etc—it
was a complete sell-out and
raised $1.65 million overall.
Eight of the lots are illustrated
and briefly described here.
Coaching Days Return to the City of Dreaming Spires
While the carriages were all 19th century, the three sleds or sleighs in
the collection dated to the previous century and this example, by an
unknown maker, was bid to a much higher than expected $46,665. The
blue painted body has ornate, gold-leaf decorated moulding that con-
tinues down the runner supports to the maroon painted runners them-
selves—all with the detail picked out in gold leaf. The removable side
doors are probably a later addition and would have been added to pro-
vide greater protection from the cold and keep out snow spray when
the sled was being driven. The upholstery is of deep red velvet, as is an
apron that can cover the whole of the passenger area. So much for the
passengers’ comfort; for their safety, the driver is equipped with foot
operated ice brakes to each runner.
Park drags were used by both gentlemen and their ladies to attend race
meetings and other events where they might wish to entertain friends
and associates. Many were supplied with roof mounted picnic sets,
sunshades, and wine cellarettes, the latter contained in the rear boot
(trunk). This one, with bodywork by coachbuilders Holland & Holland
of London, who specialised in such things, was built circa 1880 but more
recently restored to a high standard by Stolk Balkbrug Restorations of
Holland—the country, not the old firm. That rear cellarette features the
correct type of mahogany fittings with zinc liners and has a top drawer
in which the glasses and napery are kept. It sold for $120,085.
Another lot displaying Holland & Hol-
land coachwork is this private road
coach of circa 1892, seen near right,
which also sold at $120,805. Such car-
riages, generally lighter than their
European counterparts, were developed
from the stagecoaches used before the
arrival of the railways and were a sort of
nostalgic revival of old coaching days—
running to popular seaside resorts and
spa towns. This one, finished in black
with blue lower paneling and red trim,
reputedly came from the stables of
Edwin Howlett, a well known figure of
the time who taught many a young man
looking to learn the art of driving.
An example of the heavier Continen-
tal European road coach of the same
period, circa 1895, is the example seen
below it, with coachwork by Guiet &
Co. of Paris. Somewhat garish in its
colouring, the black body is set off by
bright green lower panelling and vivid
orange undercarriage and wheels.
Another restoration by Stolk Balkbrug,
it sold at $106,615.
Just the sort of thing one could envisage Holmes and Watson calling to
their aid as they rushed away from 221B Baker Street on a new case, this
hansom cab—a common sight on London streets at the time—was built
by Forder & Co., circa 1890. It sold for $38,025.
A North European wag-
onette of a type used to
transport parties on large
estates, this one is of uncer-
tain age but is believed to
have been built in Sweden.
It sold for $48,395.
“Fastidiously restored” in recent times, this travelling landau was
ordered by the Royal Mews fromAdams & Hooper of Haymarket (Lon-
don), who had a reputation for carriages of the highest quality and held
a Royal Warrant. It was delivered in 1835, in the last years of the reign
of William IV, and the king himself may well have used it for long jour-
neys. It was later owned by the American collector James Coson, and is
featured in a 1989 book on his collection. The subsequent owners had
it restored to its full royal grandeur by Stolk Balkbrug and in the Bon-
hams sale it was the star turn, selling at $372,575.
Once part of the Pemberton Carriage Collec-
tion in Canada (sold in 1999), this Concord
coach of circa 1878, with bright red coach-
work by Abbot & Downing, was restored
in the U.S.A. some years ago. Synonymous
with long distance travel in the U.S.A., Con-
cord coaches were built in several variants,
depending on the environment in which they
were to be operated. This one was built to the
“Hotel” style, the passenger compartment
being enlarged to carry up to nine people. It
sold for $135,265.