Only a Victorian Carriage Would Do

by

Udi

The end of the 19th century saw the Victorian ladies placing request for carriages that mirrored their wealth, insisting on enhanced looks and attractive accessories on the carriages. The great names in the carriage manufacturing like J. M. Quinby & Company of Newark, NJ and Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company of Chicago, IL channeled their attention to meeting these needs through providing a variety of linings and richly appointed fittings to match the needs of the elite. The fashionable and the wealthy, irrespective of whether they are engrossed in calling on other women or shopping always made a stop to admire the handiwork performed by these manufacturers on each others carriages.

With the roads being dusty and muddy, the horse drawn carriages meant for daily chores were lined with a darker color to conceal the dirt smudges. The women made sure to carry the color of their livery and carriages in the lining. Dark blue and gold livery always followed the dark blue linings accentuated with traces of gold. Red was not used by the elite crowd as it was treated as the color of disreputable ladies. With the linings made from leather, cloth, felt, or corduroy, it was made to speak of the wealth of these ladies. Smaller carriages like the Studebaker Spider Phaeton that were pulled by one or two horses were meant for speedy travel and were designed in lighter colors and cloths or fine hand-buffed leather as dictated by the existing fashion.

The Victorian carriages came with a small mirror attached to one side, for the lady to check her appearance and also a small hand-mirror attached to the front or side of the carriage known as a carriage case.

The compact leather carriage cases in the Victorian carriages held all the basic essentials like fundamentals for visitations, appointments, and other engagements like two cut glass bottles with sterling silver tops, the visiting list, a social register, a pad, pencil, and calling cards, note cards and envelopes. The case typically included the owners monogram or coat of arms to ensure its return in the event of loss. The Victorian carriages also had a small clock in the carriage case, generally inlaid on the calling card case that ensured punctual arrival of these ladies for the numerous errands squeezed into each of their outings.

The foot muff or pillows with hot water bottles inside always kept the ladies warm during harsh winters. Lap robs made of finest furs were an additional attachment in these carriages during winter, while lighter weight lap robes in the livery colors and monogrammed with the owners initials were meant for warmer climate.

Today, you can experience what was enjoyed by the ladies of the Victorian era by taking a ride on one of these historic restored vehicles seen in several cities in the North and South. A drive in these carriages will take you to a period where all existed was the lamp-lit cobbled streets, a slower pace of life and the clip-clop of a horses hoof.

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