Object Record
Images
Metadata
Title |
Ladies' Phaeton, 1907 |
Object Name |
Phaeton |
Description |
Ladies' Phaeton, 1907. Two person carriage with cabriolet top. Front lanterns intact (Brewster & Co.). Black with blue striping. Black tufted upholstery. Designed with ladies in mind, this vehicle is rather low-slung to allow easy entry. A rumble seat in the rear is provided for the footman to accompany the coach. The convertible top is usually kept up but could be lowered if desired. Women as well as men enjoyed the sport and recreation of pleasure driving. Each could demonstrate their skills and beautiful turn-outs in show rings, parks and other venues. Some vehicles were designed especially for women. This example is recorded as a "Ladies Round Body Driving Phaeton." As with other Phaetons, it was owner-driven and has a groom’s seat in the back. When the vehicle stopped and the horses halted, the groom would stand at the head of the horse. The body is curved ("round") and it has a folding top over the driver’s seat. The low step for access is attached to fenders that cover the front and rear wheels. It has a wide dash and #6 French lamps that are mounted in front of the dash. Maker: Brewster & Company, NY. Part of the San Mateo County Historical Association's carriage collection. |
Date |
1907 |
Catalog Number |
1973.430 |
Collection |
3D - Land Transportation Tools & Equipment |
Creator |
Brewster & Company, NY |
Role |
Manufacturer |
Inscription Text |
Serial number 25805 on seat and rear axle. |
Provenance |
-From the Roth Collection at Filoli. -According to records, this vehicle was made in 1907 and sold to Paul A. Sorg March 19, 1908. It was originally blue with yellow striping and undercarriage, trimmed in blue wool broadcloth. Its accessories included a watch case for the toe board, a driving cushion`, apron and seat cover. Its current color combination of black with blue stripes dates from Mrs. Roth’s era. -The Roth Collection is particularly significant as all of the carriages were built by one of the two Brewster firms in New York City, producers of the finest quality vehicles for America's leading families. The National Carriage Association in Staten Island has the original records of the Brewster Company. Since Roth carriages were produced for use in California, they evidence some special changes to adapt them to their owner's way of living. As of June 10, 1973, each carriage was in superb condition, never having been restored. Each carriage bears an individual registration number from the factory. The carriages were built almost entirely of wood, and many coats of paint were applied, each coat rubbed and polished until it was mirror-smooth. As the paint of that era dried slowly, there often was more than a week's wait between the application of coats. |
Notes |
This is another example of a fine show ring vehicle. During the carriage era, fashionable women competed at horse shows in Newport, Devon, Morristown and other locations as well as at the National Horse Show in New York City. Skilled "whips" (drivers) such as Loola Long Combs traveled by train to these events with their horses in box car stalls and their carriages in separate box cars. The Phaeton Class for women continued well into the early 20th century. The original owner, Paul Sorg, was a one of the notable whips who continued to drive in the early 20th century. This should be displayed with the Panel Boot Victoria so compare and contrast designs. Both have round bodies, folding tops and square lamps. The Phaeton has a "dickey" seat for the groom in the back whereas the Victoria has a coachman’s seat in the front. In each vehicle, the folding top covers the owner, not the person in service (coachman or groom). [Carriage Consultant Merri Ferrell 8/2021] Paul Arthur Sorg (July 22, 1878 – May 4, 1913) was an heir and an owner and exhibitor of show horses... Sorg [of New York] frequently competed with, and beat, Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt and the Vanderbilt family in horse racing and horse shows. He set world records in many multi-day racing events. In 1910, Paul set a record previously held by Alfred G. Vanderbilt racing from New York City to Atlantic city in record time using over 40 men and 75 horses. Vanderbilt used over 12 drivers to complete the race, whilst Sorg drove most of the distance himself. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Arthur_Sorg 09/01/2021] Phaeton generally refers to a family of vehicles having speed and elegance and is characterized by light construction, no doors, a high seat and large wheels. The phaeton served as an efficient traveling vehicle and was favored by the adventurer-some sportsman who enjoyed "handling the ribbons" of his/her carriage. In other vehicles, the servants drove the owner. This Ladies' Phaeton is in storage and currently not available for viewing. "Brewster & Co. was founded by Henry Brewster, a son of James Brewster, a noted early-19th-century carriage builder at New Haven. Henry Brewster's firm was founded in 1856 and was first known as Brewster of Broome Street, New York, but changed the name to Brewster & Co. when its main office was moved to Broadway and 47th Street in 1874. Under the direction of John W. Britton, one of the partners in the firm, Brewster & Co. became the leading builder of high-class carriages in the U.S., and enjoyed the custom of most of the prominent personalities in New York society and elsewhere." [https://carriageassociationofamerica.com/carriage-tour/stanhope-gig/ 08/02/2018] |
Dimensions |
H-84.5 W-63 D-121 inches |
Search Terms |
Carriage Carriages Filoli Horse Drawn Vehicles Roth, Lurline Matson Roth, William P (Mrs.) Transportation |
Subjects |
Carriages & coaches Transportation |
People |
Roth, Lurline Matson Roth, William P. Mrs. |
Credit line |
Courtesy of Mrs. William P. Roth |