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• Auction House:
  Donington Auctions
• Sale Name:
  Collectors' Motorcycles, Cars & Horse Drawn Carriages - Featuring the Private Museum of Racing Driver Bryan Thomson
• Sale Date:
  20 Jun 2021 ~ 2pm (AEST)
• Lot #:
  41
• Lot Description:
  An 1860s VICE REGAL CEREMONIAL TOWN COACH, built for HRH Krishnaraja Wodeyar III, Maharajah of Mysore
  probably by Simpson & Company, London, and then also used by HRH Chamarajaednra X, Maharajah of Mysore, the enclosed coach with tropical roof surmounted by a coronet, over ten sliding glass windows, each removable and able to be replaced with sliding wooden privacy louvres (unrestored but included with the vehicle), the interior elaborately trimmed in red plush deep buttoned trim with woven braids, on iron-braced undercarriage with full elliptic springs and curved, iron-braced reach, postilion steps at the rear (currently fitted with a detachable groom's seat and rear brakes), the detachable front seat with ceremonial trim, arranged to fold away when used with postilion riders, elaborate iron forecarriage, on iron tyred wooden hub wheels, brass-mounted splinter bar, lacking pole. This important vehicle was the most significant in the collection of seventeen carriages brought from the Maharajah's palace at Mysore in 1974 by Edward Clark and Jim Elder and sold by Joels in Melbourne in February 1974, but for the elephant-drawn State Carriage (sold in London in 2012). Designed to be driven from either the front seat or by postilion riders, with the front seat folded, this exceptional vehicle would have been among the most valuable and impressive of the English built Mysore carriages and was used to carry numerous important visitors to the Mysore Kingdom in the second part of the 19th century and the early 20th century. In 1921 the vehicle carried Edward Prince of Wales during his tour of Madras, Bangalore, Mysore and Hyderabad, and is just visible in the silent film made for the occasion and now kept by the British Film Institute, travelling behind an open landau. A very similar, or possibly this actual vehicle with ceremonial dressings, is depicted in a wall mural in the Mysore Palace being driven by postilions. The carriage survived in superb original condition until its export from India and sale in Melbourne in 1974, a scandalous event which eventuated in new Moveable Cultural Heritage laws being enacted in India to prevent the exit of any further historical Indian artefacts. It was subsequently painted and retrimmed however this cosmetic work did not disturb the main fabric of the vehicle and some minor adjustments will return it to precisely its appearance when in use by the Maharajah.
• Provenance:
  HRH Krishnaraja Wodeyar III, Maharajah of Mysore; HRH Chamarajaednra X, Maharajah of Mysore; Joels, Melbourne, 20th February 1974 'The Collection of HRH the Maharajah of Mysore' (illustrated in colour as Lot 117); The estate of Herbert Karall, Yass
• Estimate:
  A$80,000 - 90,000
• Realised Price:
  $0.00
• Category:
  Automobiles & Accessories

This Sale has been held and this item is no longer available. Details are provided for information purposes only.