Sedan chair
Unknown
Category
Carriages & other vehicles
Date
1727 - 1740
Materials
Painted wood body with brass furniture and a beige cloth upholstered interior.
Measurements
160 x 72.5 x 86cm (5ft 3in x 2ft 4 1/2in x 2ft 10in)
Place of origin
Paris
Collection
Moulton Hall, North Yorkshire
NT 221910
Caption
This rare Parisian shaped sedan chair is an example of how the patron might commisson their new sedan chair to cater for their personal tastes. The owner of this chair clearly favoured paintings of pastrol scenes and butterflies.
Summary
Sedan chair built between 1765 and 1780 by an unknown builder but in the manner of George Vaughan (1726-1753) appointed sedan chair maker to Queen Caroline (1727-1737) and Frederick Prince of Wales (1729-1749). A sedan chair built in the Parisian manner with a curve to the front and rear roof. The windows slide into the door and are framed in blue. On the leather panels are painted scenes (possibly later or overpainted): a boy fishing, bows and musical instruments and butterflies. The interior is upholsterd with a fine pattern material of floral motifs in blue and green.
Full description
This is a very rare, possibly unique shaped Parisian/Versailles sedan of the period 1765-1780. It is unusual for having sliding side windows. The metal furniture and wooden carved toes and heels are similar to several other sedans of this period featuring compass side glasses (as depicted by J. M. Moreau ‘Les Precautions’ printed 1777). The panels are painted with a scene of a boy fishing, butterflies and foliate designs. The sedan chair is further embellished with decorated brass exterior furniture. Inside, the sedan is upholstered in a fine patterned beige material with a blue/green pattern of flower heads and leaves. This is a similar material to that used in three other sedan chairs in the South of France.
Marks and inscriptions
Label on the inside.: H M Sanderson, Darlington.
Makers and roles
Unknown, builder