Unusual
article | Reading time5 min
Discover this magnificent collection of 14 horse-drawn carriages, testimony to the art of 19th-century carriage driving.
An art of living
Presented today in the farmyard's coach house, these carriages for two to four horses with a variety of functions, produced by the greatest names in Parisian coachbuilding (Bail jeunes frères, Morel, Kellner...), and meticulously finished, bear witness to the art of carriage driving in the 19th century: refinement and luxury.
These horse-drawn carriages reflect Henry Viguier's passion for horses. An equestrian sports enthusiast, member of the Société des courses de Châteauroux and President of the Cercle de l'étrier, he owned his own stable in the blue and daffodil coat. Until 1939, he drove his own carriages along the avenues of the Bois de Boulogne and the paths of the Berry region, despite the progress of the automobile.
They were used for all household activities: hunting, strolls, picnics, visits to neighboring estates, trips to surrounding villages, transportation of guests and household supplies.
These crews, with their well-dressed horses and expressive heads, large spokes, well-stocked and broad-breasted, had a special distinction. The crowd looked at them far more than at the most sumptuous automobile.
Extract from an article written for La Revue des agriculteurs de France in 1935
© Reproduction Jean-Luc Paillé / Centre des monuments nationaux
Some models
Coupé de poste à la d'Aumont
This type of private carriage is rare and luxurious , as it is equipped with an eight-spring suspension system, the highest level of horse-drawn comfort. These eight springs were expensive to maintain , requiring a team of several horses and the presence of one or two footmen to open the doors, unfold the running boards and help passengers on and off.
The Bouges model is "d'Aumont", i.e. it has no driver's seat. The carriage is harnessed to four horses driven by two postilions mounted on the horses on the left.
This luxurious type of carriage is reserved for gala carriages in town. There is also a road version (for travel) and a sports version (especially for hunting), illustrated by the coupé de Bouges.
© Bernard Renoux / Centre des monuments nationaux
The game car
This car was used to transport game killed on the hunt. Mounted on two wheels, it is enclosed by clerestory panels and fitted with iron rods bearing 315 hooks for hanging small game (rabbits, hares, game birds).
It illustrates the skill and talent of provincial coachbuilders.
© Bernard Renoux / Centre des monuments nationaux