Marking significant anniversaries in a monarch's reign
The gilded eight horse-drawn State Coach. Designed by William Chambers (1723-96) and made by the coachmaker Samuel Butler; featuring painted panels by Giovanni Cipriani (1727-85) and richly gilded carved sculpture by the carver Joseph Wilton (1722-1803), the gilder Henry Pujolas and the metal chaser George Coyte. Three cherubs on the roof (representing England, Ireland and Scotland) support the Imperial Crown and four tritons, one at each corner (representing Britain's imperial power). The body of the coach is slung by braces covered with Morocco leather with gilt buckles. The interior is lined and upholstered with velvet and satin.
Catalogue entry from Gold,London, 2014.
Catalogue entry from Gold,London, 2014.
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Commissioned late in 1760 by The King's Master of the Horse, Francis Hastings, 10th Earl of Huntingdon (1729-89) for George III for his coronation and wedding to Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz in 1761. However the complexity of the project meant that it was used by the King for the first time for the State Opening of Parliament on 25 November 1762. Used at every Coronation from George IV onwards, including that of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 and on other state occasions including the Golden Jubilee of 2002.
