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| | | CROWN COACH | | | | | | |  | | 18th Century (beginning)
Ceremonial vehicle.
French work, made in Paris.
Inv. nº 7
Dim: 265x177x343 cm
First coach built by order of King João V for an embassy. It was part of the procession that the King of Portugal sent to the court of Louis XIV having as Ambassador the Count of Ribeira Grande.
The King used it after its return to Portugal.
The roof is adorned with a bronze crown and figures in gilt bronze representing winged dragons, a symbol of the Royal Power and the House of Bragança.
On the four posts in the corners of the body are figures representing the four continents and on the main panels there are shields with the royal coat of arms.
The luxurious inside is lined with green and gold brocade and the floor is covered in tortoiseshell and bronze that were cut out in the technique of the André-Charles Boulle (1642-1732).
The set of wheels has the same decorative characteristics as the body decorated with carved woodwork.
The suspension springs have gilt bronze protectors with sculpted figures of boys that are destroying weapons in an allegory of Peace.
The buckles of the suspension straps are bronze engraved with lion heads that alternate with dragons respectively. | | |  | |
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