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| | | PHILIP II COACH | | | | | | |  | | 16th-17th Century
Travel vehicle.
Spanish work.
Inv. nº 1
Dim: 572x185x241 cm
A rare example of a royal vehicle, it is the most ancient coach in the Museum’s collection.
It belonged to King Philip II (Philip III of Spain) who used it on his visit to Portugal in 1619. It’s an archaic prototype, similar to those used in the end of the 16th Century.
The open body, covered in black leather with gilt tacks creating geometric designs, has windowpanes suspended by straps replacing the curtains.
The interior is lined with red velvet over a yellow background. A flower motif with rays projecting from it in gilt carved wood, over a damask background, enrich the ceiling of this coach.
Under the seat pillows there is an evacuation system, useful in a vehicle meant for long journeys.
A chest to hold paraphernalia for the trip replaces the coachman’s seat.
The front set of wheels, still too large and connected to the axle, makes this vehicle difficult to manoeuvre.
The coach was pulled by six horses.
Due to the absence of a coachman’s seat, driving was accomplished with a leader (tronqueiro - a man that drives the team next to the coach body) and a postillion (sota - a man that drives the team from the front pair of horses), both mounted on horses. | | |  | |
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