Sedan chair
Unknown [name retired]
Category
Carriages & other vehicles
Date
circa 1711
Materials
Wood frame with painted leather panels and cloth upholstery.
Measurements
163 x 71 x 80cm (5ft 4 1/4in x 2ft 4in x 2ft 7 1/2in)
Place of origin
France
Order this imageCollection
Snowshill Manor and Garden, Gloucestershire
NT 1331890
Caption
This is probably to second oldest surviving sedan chair in the United Kingdom. It is a standard Louis XIV Parisian public hire chair which has been specifically painted for use around the royal residence of Chateau Marly (demolished early 19th century), five miles north of Versailles. The majority of these sedan chairs have not survived as they were broken down, burnt or given for use in hospitals during the French Revolution.
Summary
Sedan chair of the late Louis XIV’ s reign (1638-1715), built in Versailles or Paris. Painted softwood panels infill the wooden frame. The roof is covered in brown leather. This sedan has quarter glazed windows to both sides and in door and is upholstered in a green fabric (replacement). It has padded armrests and all the fabric is attached with round-headed brass nails. The ceiling is covered in a floral patterned, carpet-like material. A wire rod hanging from the back left corner would have hooked into an eye (missing) at the front for curtain across the window, and there is a curved rod over the top of the door's window for a curtain. There is green paint around the windows. The seat is removable, resting on boards. There is a board missing from the floor. Metal latch on the outside of the door to secure it. outside, the panels have a mid-brown background colour further over-painted with the initial ‘L’ for Louis, fleur de lys and a red coronet. Also within in the decorated scheme are gilt painted lines and trailing sprigs, a crossing sceptre and the hand of justice. There are brackets either side for the carrying poles. It has the number 17 painted on back. In notebook no.1, page 68 (1340945.1) Charles Wade refers to: 'Meridian 18. A Royal Sedan Chair. built of wood, painted with the Royal emblems Crown Septres & Royal Arms in Red & yellow on a Lavender grey background Numbered 17. said to have been one of a number of chairs used at Chateau MARLY, for carrying guests from the chateau to the Lodge gates (I bought this at AVIGNON) THE ROYAL PALACE' Includes sketch.
Full description
This is probably the second oldest surviving sedan chair in the United Kingdom. It is a standard Louis XIV Parisian public hire chair which has been specifically painted for use around the royal residence of Chateau Marly (demolished early 19th century), five miles north of Versailles. It is almost identical (except for its brown rather than blue background paint colour) to those built for the town of Versailles from 1677. The shape of this chair is a simplified version of the more sophisticated French court sedans of the 1660’s. This fine example is one of only two known examples of French public hire sedans from the reign of Louis XV and XIV, many sedans were destroyed, burnt or donated for use in hospitals during the French revolution (1789-1793) and therefore have not survived. A further six recorded French public hire sedans from the 19th century survive, predominantly for use at spa resorts.
Provenance
Given to the National Trust with Snowshill Manor in 1951 by Charles Paget Wade.
Marks and inscriptions
On panel: 'L' for Louis in gilt
Makers and roles
Unknown [name retired], builder
References
Wade, 1944: Charles Paget Wade, Contents of Snowshill Manor. Volume 1 Ground Floor, 1944, page 68