Descrição
AN 1860s VICE REGAL ALL WEATHER CONVERTIBLE LANDAU - , built for HRH Krishnaraja Wodeyar III, Maharajah of Mysore by Simpson & Company, London
ESTIMATE: AUD $35, 000 - $45, 000
Offered by Donington Auctions - Collector Motorcycle & Car Auction - Featuring the Private Museum of Racing Driver Bryan Thomson - Sydney NSW June 20th 2pm AEST.
A Vice Regal All Weather Convertible Landau, 1860s, built for HRH Krishnaraja Wodeyar III, Maharajah of Mysore by Simpson & Company, London, and then also used by HRH Chamarajaednra X, Maharajah of Mysore. This exceptional vehicle represents the pinnacle of luxury carriage design of the mid 19th century and would have cost more than twenty times that of a normal open carriage. Simpson & Company were coachbuilders specialising in the highest possible bespoke work and attracted wealthy customers from royal households in Europe, India and the far east as well as many parts of the British Empire. The Royal Household of Mysore used Simpsons for the majority of their ceremonial carriages, and later for motor cars, for over seventy years. The company opened agencies in Bombay and Calcutta to service their Indian customers and listed many prominent Indian families among their clients. The carriages were built in London to the specific requirements of the customer and shipped to India where the local agency would assemble and prepare them for delivery, also undertaking maintenance and adjustments as required. This example is particularly fine and features a full hard-top cabin with two sliding, two fixed and four folding glass windows. Detachable louvres fit over the windows for privacy. The roof can be unclipped in the centre, the middle section of which opens back. From there, the roof can be lowered at the back or at the front, or both, given numerous different configurations to suit the circumstances. It is effectively a landau, a landaulette, a britzka, and an open or closed coach all in one. As the doors are opened, steps automatically unfold. A brake operating on the rear wheels is actuated from the driving seat. For those wanting a single formal carriage, there can be no better or more flexible design. The carriage survived in superb condition and was sold as a part of the Maharajah of Mysore’s Collection at Joels in Melbourne in February 1974 completely original and untouched. It was subsequently cosmetically restored with new paint and trim, the former matching the original livery, the latter in a serviceable tapestry brocade. Replica Mysore arms are attached to the doors. With minor adjustments the presentation can be easily returned to the original appearance. Fitted with original pole and brass mounted splinter bar.
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 as Lot 120)
The estate of Herbert Karall, Yass
