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| | | “MENINOS de PALHAVÔ COACH | | | | | | |  | | 18th Century (1st half)
Ceremonial vehicle.
Portuguese work.
Inv. nº 21
Dim: 560x189x265 cm
According to tradition it was built for the 3 bastard children of King João V, Princes António, Gaspar and José, known as the “Meninos (Children) de Palhavã” after the location where they lived.
It is a two-place coach with a shortened body cut off in the front part, or Coupé (French for cut), next to the frame of the doors.
Therefore, it has an interior space for only one seat for two passengers and is much lighter and faster.
The decoration has been attributed to the carver Silvestre de Faria and the painter José da Costa Negreiros.
On the panels and doors, the paintings portray spirits and cherubs holding garlands and festoons around the shield of the Portuguese royal coat of arms.
The suspension springs are attached only to the rear corners, with the front connection made directly to the body, which is possible because of the absence of the passenger seat. | | |  | |
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