Carriages in the 18th century - Cabriolets and Chaises

Wie einige Posts zuvor beschrieben, entwickelten sich Kutschen im Laufe des 17. Jahrhunderts zur bevorzugten Transportmöglichkeit des Adels, vor allem auf längeren Reisen sowie zum unabdingbaren Statussymbol. Im 18. Jahrhundert differenzierten sich weitere Typen von Kutschen aus, die den unterschiedlichen Bedürfnissen von Mobilität und Selbstdarstellung entsprachen.

During the 17th century carriages became the favourite traveling conveyance and a beloved status symbol for every noble on European terrain. In the following century a number of developments and variations complemented the changing ideas of mobility and self-expression.

Cabriolet 18th century

Bereits im 17. Jahrhundert gab es in Frankreich die Erscheinung des Cabriolets - damals noch zweispännig -, die jedoch nur von kurzer Dauer war und sich erst ab der Mitte des 18. Jahrhunderts durchsetzte. Es waren leichte Gefährte mit nur zwei Rädern, die einspännig gefahren wurden. Man saß darauf im Freien und lenkte die Kutsche selbst. In einer 1755 erschienenen Schrift namens Dialog entre Cartouche et Mandrin hieß es: "Es gibt nichts Neues, außer den Kabrioletts. Sie sind gerade jetzt in Mode und begeistern ganz Paris. (...) Die Mode schreibt vor, dass er (der Reisende) einen Reithut trägt, graue Handschuhe und enge Ärmel und daß er die Peische in der Hand hält. Erst nach unendlichen Veränderungen ist es den Beaux gelungen, den Ansprüchen gerecht zu werden, die die Mode in diesen Dingen vorschreibt. Alles andere wird jetzt den Kabrioletts nachgebildet: Haartrachten, Kleider, Perücken, einfach alles. Bald wird jeder in der Stadt ein Kabriolett besitzen."


In 17th century France an early two-horse form of the cabriolet appeared shortly and vanished again, only to return with big success in mid-18th century. Now the cabriolet was a light, two-wheeled one-horse construction, run by the passenger himself. The french script 'Dialog entre Cartouche et Mandrin' (1755) contains a description of the cabriolets at their hight of being fashionable: "There is nothing new exept for the cabriolets. They are in fashion right now and all of Paris is enthusiastic about them. (...) As fashion dictates, the passenger's outfit includes a riding hat, grey gloves, tight sleeves and a riding crop. It took the Beaux a large number of alterations to finally adapt to that fashion. Everything else is modelled on the cabriolets: Hairstyle, dress, wigs, everything. Soon everyone in Paris will have a cabriolet."

18th century Chaise

Die Chaise war eine Zwischenform zwischen Vinaigrette und Cabriolet. Sie war ähnlich dem Cabriolet von leichter und eleganter Bauart, einspännig und schneller als eine herkömmliche Kutsche. Sie bot Platz für maximal zwei - eher schlanke - Reisende. Das Einsteigen gestaltete ich oft schwierig, da die Karosse sich genau zwischen bzw. über den Rädern befand. Die ursprünglich französische Chaise erfreute sowohl in England als auch in den Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika großer Beliebheit und war insgesamt eine der beliebtesten Kutschenformen des 18. Jahrhunderts.

The Chaise was an intermediate form between the Vinaigrette and the Cabriolet. It was light and elegant in design and much faster than a regular coach. The one-horse Chaise acommodated two - rather slim - passengers, but was a little difficult to board, since the caroche was located above and inbetween the wheels. Of french origin, the Chaise quickly became popular in England and the United Staates of America and was one of the most favoured carriages in the 18th century.

French Chaise © Science & Society Picture Library

Carriages - The 17th century - part 2

A little more about coaches, carriages and sedans in the 17th century:

Brouette

King Louis XIII. of France often used a little brouette on a hunt. The brouette was not loved by many, it was rather famous for beeing uncomfortable and for falling over incidentally.
When it came to smaller vehicles the sedans were spreading quickly in early 17th century France. Some even used the sedan for long lasting journeys. For instance, the Duchess of Nemours travelled from her principality in Neuchatel to Paris in a sedan each year, which took her eight days and required the service of 40 carriers. Other than that, the sedan was basically an inner-city conveyance, that came out of fashion not before the 18th century.

Brouettes also known as Vinaigrettes in Versailles

Coaches for overland travelling were usually much bigger and simpler in construction than the refined city vehicles. This changed however, when in the middle of the century the Coupé was introduced. At that time springs were first attached to the carriage, to make travelling more comfortable. Until then it had been a very shaky experience. But from then on the carriage case was seperated from the chassis and carriages became more and more accepted as the appropiate touring caroche.

17th century Coupé   © Éminence Rouge Blog

The famous maitresse of King Louis XIV., Madame de Montespan, travelled in 1676 to Bourbon l'Archambault with much pomp and ostentation. Her state coach was massive, with a 6 horse hitch and in her entourage were six ladies in waiting in a seperate coach, two carriages for luggage drawn by mules and an escort of up to 12 horsemen and 20 servants.
Nevertheless the french nobility began to ask for more lightweight pomp waggons and soon the Caleshe, named after the polish kolaska, caught on to become the must have for everyone with taste and influence.

Louis XIV and Marie Thesese in a very pompous caleshe © White Images/Scala, Florence  

At first the caleshe was a rather simple caroche without any suspension or top and drawn by either two or four horses. Later it was usually lined with rich textiles and heavily gilded. No window coverings spoiled the view out of the caleshe or the supply of fresh air. In France during the 17th century a 6 horse hitch was common with the caleshe and with the success of the latter the carriage had been finally established as status symbol.

Carriages!

Habe soeben für nur 3 Euro ein hübsches Büchlein über Kutschen erstanden. Da ich schon lange nach so etwas gesucht habe, ist das natürlich ein Glücksfung für mich! Denn irgendwie weiß man über vieles Bescheid, nur Kutschen sind mir nach wie vor ein Rätsel.

I just bought a book about carriages for only 3 euro at a second hand bookshop. I'm really excited, because I was looking for something like this for a long time. I still don't know nothing about carriages and their history and always had the feeling there was something missing on my book shelf. I will post some interesting facts as soon as possible, since there are only few overall summeries on the internet.