The King’s State Coach.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVIII, Issue XXV, 21 June 1902, Page 1254

The King’s State Coach.

The King's state coach will be used on the occasion of the Coronation. This vehicle has cost more than £3OOO, and was last used in 1861. We learn from Walpole's letter to Sir Horace Mann that this historic vehicle was first used on November 16, 1762. "There is come forth a new- state coach, which has cost £ 8000,” he writes. "It is a beautiful object, though crowded with improprieties. Its supports are Tritons, not very well adapted to land carriage, and formed of palm trees, which are as little aquatie as Tritons are terrestrial. The crowd to see it on the opening of Parliament was greater than at the Coronation, and much more mischief done.” The state coach consists of four Tritons supporting the body by cables. With characteristic quaintness

the couple placed on the front support the driver on their shoulders, and are sounding shells; the driver's footboard being in the form of a large scallop-shell, supported by marine plants. Thus the coach is symbolic of the fact that Britannia rules the waves.

The two Tritons at the back carry the Imperial fasces, topped with tridents.

The pole of this unique vehicle is made to look like a bundle of lances; while the wheels are a comparatively modern imitation of those used in the triumphal chariots in classic times. Take il for all in all. this wonderful coach has rather the appearance of having met with an accident of some sort which has resulted in thrusting the two axles particularly wide apart, while the hinder portion looks as though it had been squashed earthwards.

Eight palm trees form the body of the vehicle, trophies of British victories being at each angle formed by them. They support the roof by branching out at the top. The inside of the coach is gorgeous in the extreme, being lined with searlet embossed velvet, superbly laced and embroidered with the Star, encircled by the collar of the Order of the Garter, and surmounted by the Imperial Crown, hanging from the George and Dragon. In the corners are the Kose. Shamrock and Thistle entwinec. The total cost of the original construction. apart from the hororarium to the great artist Cipriani for painting the panels, amounted to £7651 16/34. It was disbursed as follows:

Lcrd George Sanger is credited with having cnee offered £15.000 for it. The coach is gilded all over except the panels, which bear Cipriani's pictures. The construction took three entire years. 1759-1762.

BILL FOR ST ATE COACH. Coachmaker £ 1763 15 0 Carver 2500 0 0 Gilder 933 14 0 Painter 315 0 0 Laceman 737 10 7 Milliner 31 3 4 Mercer 202 5 104 Woollen-draper .. 4 2 6 Chaser Harness-maker .. Bitmaker 99 9 6 Saddler 10 6 6 Cover-maker 3 9 6 £ 7,651 16 34