Maharaja of Mysore's 1825 State Carriage – to be auctioned in the UK
The Indian royal carriage will be auctioned by specialist classic vehicle auctioneers, Historics at Brooklands at an estimated auction value of £70,000-£100,000.
The nearly 200-year-old royal vehicle is believed to be of British origin. It was used for engagements by the Maharaja to transport British Royalty including His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales.
The magnificence of the vehicle is represented in a wall-painting at the Mysore Palace Museum in Karnataka, a neighbouring town to Bangalore.
The carriage [pictured] features an ornately finished cruciform body with a vaulted, domed roof, situated atop double elliptic springs and iron-bound artillery patterned wheels.
The base colour is olive green embellished with delicate meander boarders, floral and heraldic motifs and the family coat of arms. Most of the sixteen windows offer drop-down, decorated panels and shutters for privacy. The interior is upholstered in beige damask and the roof has decorative paintwork, carved border mouldings and finials.
The exterior houses two seats that would have been used for servants and courtiers.
The coach was first auctioned in Australia in 1974 and was later exhibited at the Fine Art and Antiques Fair in London in 1991. UK’s Historics acquired it two years ago and carried out light restoration work.
