State coach

A state coach, also known as a gala coach, is a highly decorative ceremonial coach used in Europe by a monarch or head of state on state occasions. A four-wheeled vehicle for four passengers, it may be drawn at a walk by six or more horses with postilions, or be driven by two or more horses. The term is also used to indicate a formal town coach used by nobility and the wealthy for formal occasions, drawn by a pair of matching horses.

A state chariot, also called a gala chariot or dress chariot, is an elaborately decorated four-wheeled vehicle for two passengers for ceremonial occasions; often the front panel is replaced by a glass panel or windscreen. The word chariot was used in England, and coupé in France.

Overview

The first state coach was built in the mid-1500s by Walter Rippon for the State Opening of Parliament, and most had been built by 1840. State coaches are still used for royal weddings and other state ceremonial events.

State coaches were built by coachbuilders with excellent craftsmanship and the finest finishes. Most state coaches have large glass windows so passengers can be seen by spectators. The interiors are trimmed in silks and the exteriors decorated with elaborate paintings, figures, coats of arms, gilt-work, and hammercloths. The coachman and footmen wear state livery and the horses are harnessed with ornate state harness.

Many state coaches were constructed to be convertible. They can be driven by a coachman from a driver's seat in the front, usually covered by an elaborate hammercloth, or the seat can be removed and the carriage is guided by postilion riders and outriders. A carriage arranged for postilion may have "" appended to its name. "Daumont" is a corruption of the French from the 8th Duke of Aumont who preferred this manner of travel.

Early state coaches in England were drawn by cream-colored horses of Hanoverian blood. In the early 1920s they were replaced by black horses. Now, teams of grey horses are used for the Sovereign, and bay horses are used for other passengers.

Another type of state coach is the cardinal's coach, which was painted red and used by cardinals.

List of state coaches

Image Name Built State LocationNotesBridal Coach1560-1561GermanyVeste CoburgCoburgGolden bridal coach of Dorothea of Denmark reused for the 1599 wedding of her daughter Margaret with Duke John CasimirBridal Coach1586GermanyVeste CoburgCoburgGolden bridal coach built for the 1586 wedding of Anna of Saxony with Duke John CasimirGolden Coach for the Imperial Embassy to Pope Urban VIII1638Czech RepublicČeský Krumlov CastleČeský KrumlovBuilt in Rome for Johan Anton I von Eggenberg, Imperial ambassador to the Holy SeeState Coach of Maria Francisca of Savoy, Queen of Portugal1666PortugalNational Coach MuseumLisbonBrought from France by Maria Francisca of Savoy on the occasion of her wedding to Peter II of PortugalCarroza Negra1670-1680SpainRoyal Collections GalleryMadridBelonged to Mariana of AustriaSwedish Coronation Coach1696-1699, 1751SwedenLivrustkammarenStockholmBuilt in Paris for Charles XI, refurbished in 1751Speaker's State Coach1698United KingdomPalace of WestminsterLondonBuilt for William IIIState Coach of Maria Anna of Austria, Queen of Portugal1708PortugalNational Coach MuseumLisbonGiven by the Holy Roman Emperor to his sister Maria Anna of Austria on the occasion of her marriage to John V of PortugalState Coach of the Oceans1716PortugalNational Coach MuseumLisbonBuilt in Rome for the Portuguese ambassador to the Holy SeeState Coach of the Coronation of Lisbon1716PortugalNational Coach MuseumLisbonBuilt in Rome for the Portuguese ambassador to the Holy SeeState Coach of the Ambassador1716PortugalNational Coach MuseumLisbonBuilt in Rome for the Portuguese ambassador to the Holy SeeState Coach of King John V 1720 (c.)PortugalNational Coach MuseumLisbonBuilt in Portugal for John V of PortugalImperial Coach1735AustriaImperial Carriage MuseumViennaBuilt for Charles VIGolden Coach1738AustriaLiechtenstein Garden PalaceViennaBuilt in Paris for Joseph Wenzel I, Prince of LiechtensteinCoronation coach of Emperor Charles VII1742GermanyMarstallmuseum NymphenburgMunichBuilt for Charles VIILord Mayor of London's State Coach1757United KingdomMuseum of LondonLondonBuilt by Joseph Berry Gold State Coach1762United KingdomRoyal MewsLondonBuilt for George III Crown Prince's State Coach1763–68SwedenLivrustkammarenStockholmBuilt for crown prince GustavQueen's Brussels State Coach1780 (c.)SwedenLivrustkammarenStockholmBuilt by Simons in Brussels for Queen Sophia Magdalena of SwedenLord Mayor of Dublin's State Coach1789IrelandMansion HouseDublinRestored in 1975. In use for St. Patrick's Day parade and Dublin Horse Show.Coronation coach of King Maximilian I Joseph1806GermanyMarstallmuseum NymphenburgMunichBuilt for Maximilian I JosephEgiziana State Coach1819ItalyQuirinal PalaceRomeBuilt in Turin after designs by Giacomo Pregliasco for Charles Felix of SardiniaState Coach for the Baptism of the Duke of Bordeaux1821FranceGalerie des CarrossesVersaillesBuilt for the Baptism of the Duke of Bordeaux, redecorated 1852-53 for the wedding of Napoleon IIICrown State Coach1824PortugalNational Coach MuseumLisbonBuilt in London for John VICoronation Coach of Charles X1825FranceGalerie des CarrossesVersaillesCompleted for the coronation of Charles X of FranceGran Gala Berlin State Coach of Pope Leo XII1826Vatican CityCarriage Pavilion at the Vatican MuseumsVatican CityBuilt for Pope Leo XII, altered for Pope Gregory XVIGlass Coach1826NetherlandsRoyal StablesThe HagueBuilt by Simons in Brussels for William IState Coach of the Royal Crown1829-33SpainRoyal Collections GalleryMadridBuilt in Madrid by Julián González for Ferdinand VIIScottish State Coach1830United KingdomRoyal MewsLondonBuilt for Prince AdolphusGolden Coupé1840DenmarkRoyal Mews and Carriage Museum,Christiansborg PalaceCopenhagenBuilt for Christian VIIICoronation Coach of Pedro II of Brazil1841BrazilImperial Museum of BrazilPetrópolisBuilt in London for the coronation of Emperor Pedro II of BrazilIrish State Coach1851United KingdomRoyal MewsLondonBuilt by Thomas Hutton, and later purchased by Queen Victoria.Replicated by Barkers in 1911 when it was destroyed by fire at their shop Napoleon III State Coach1852BelgiumArt & History Museum exhibited at AutoworldBrusselsBuilt by Ehrler in Paris for Napoleon III Used at the Baptism of Louis-Napoléon, Prince ImperialState Coach 'Louise-Marie'1855 (c.)BelgiumArt & History Museum exhibited at the Palace of LaekenBrusselsBuilt by Jones Frères in Brussels for King Leopold I of BelgiumCoronation Coach of Alexander II1856RussiaTsarskoye Selo State MuseumSaint PetersburgBuilt by Christian Tatzki in St. Petersburg for the coronation of Alexander II of RussiaEmperor Maximilian's State Coach1864MexicoChapultepec CastleMexico CityBuilt by Cesare Scala in Milan for Maximilian I of MexicoEmperor Franz Joseph's State Coach1865AustriaImperial Carriage MuseumViennaBuilt by Carl Marius for Emperor Franz Joseph I of AustriaQueen Alexandra's State Coach1865United KingdomRoyal MewsLondonBuilt as a town coach, later converted to a state coach for Queen AlexandraNew dress coach of Ludwig II1870GermanyMarstallmuseum NymphenburgMunichBuilt for Ludwig II of Bavaria Glass Coach1881United KingdomRoyal MewsLondonPurchased by the Crown for the coronation of George V and Mary in 1911Cotillion Coach1888DenmarkRoyal Mews and Carriage Museum,Christiansborg PalaceCopenhagenMiniature coach for Christian IXGran Carroza de Gala1890 (c.)ChileSantiagoBarouche built by Paris coachbuilder Million-Guiet for Chile president José Manuel BalmacedaState Coach of the French Republic1896FranceNational Car and Tourism Museum, CompiègneBuilt for the French President on the occasion of the State visit of Czar Nicholas IISjuglas State Carriage1897SwedenRoyal StablesStockholmBuilt by Ad. Freyschuss Hofvagnfabrik to celebrate King Oscar II’s 25th anniversary on the throne in 1897Golden Coach1898NetherlandsRoyal StablesThe HagueBuilt by Spyker as a gift from the people of Amsterdam to Queen WilhelminaCreme Calèche1898NetherlandsRoyal StablesThe HagueBuilt by Hermans & Co in The Hague for Queen Emma as a gift to her daughter Queen WilhelminaState Landau1902United KingdomRoyal MewsLondonBuilt by Hooper for Edward VII; drawn by 6 grey horses with three postilion riders Imperial Carriage No.11914JapanImperial Household AgencyTokyoReserved for the Emperor of Japan, it has only been used for the enthronement ceremonies of Emperor Taishō and Emperor Shōwa.Australian State Coach1988United KingdomRoyal MewsLondonBuilt for Elizabeth IIDiamond Jubilee State Coach2010United KingdomRoyal MewsLondonBuilt for Elizabeth II

Gallery

See also Gold coach Canadian State Landau Japan state carriages (Simple Wikipedia, Japanese Wikipedia)

Notes

References

State coach

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