Antique French Four-Door Berlin Carriage, 1771

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Title: 18th century french four-door berlin carriage, diderot, 1771 description: original antique hand-colored copper engraving depicting an elaborate four-door travelling … Read more Title: 18th century french four-door berlin carriage, diderot, 1771 description: original antique hand-colored copper engraving depicting an elaborate four-door travelling berlin carriage, published in the celebrated encyclopédie of denis diderot and jean le rond d’alembert. The original caption reads “sellier-carrossier; berline de campagne à 4 portières.” the large central illustration presents the complete carriage in side elevation, revealing its four-door passenger compartment, large rear and smaller front wheels, suspension system, chassis, driver’s seat and richly ornamented coachwork. Additional figures show the carriage from the front together with individual structural components and construction details. Particularly attractive is the extensive hand coloring, with rose-red coachwork, blue window panels, yellow floral decoration and touches of gilt-colored ornament. These colors transform what was originally conceived as a technical illustration into a highly decorative record of luxury french carriage design. The berlin, or berline, was an enclosed four-wheeled carriage developed for comfortable long-distance travel and became one of the most important european carriage types of the 18th century. This “berline de campagne” was specifically conceived as a travelling carriage. The plate belongs to the “sellier-carrossier” section of diderot’s encyclopédie, documenting the highly specialized craft of the saddler and coachbuilder. The encyclopédie plates are among the most important visual records of european craftsmanship, technology and manufacturing during the age of enlightenment. Artist / draftsman: jacques-raymond lucotte engraver: robert bénard (1734–1777) publication: encyclopédie – recueil de planches sur les sciences, les arts libéraux et les arts méchaniques plate: vii original title: sellier-carrossier; berline de campagne à 4 portières date: 1771 origin: france medium: original copper engraving with hand coloring subject: four-door berlin travelling carriage / coachbuilding style / period: louis xv–louis xvi period / french enlightenment condition: good antique condition with overall age-related toning, scattered foxing, spotting and staining. Some creasing, handling wear and small imperfections are visible along the margins and edges, including wear and minor losses. The engraving itself remains strong and detailed. The extensive hand coloring remains particularly attractive, with reds, blues, yellows and gilt-toned decorative details. Please study the photographs carefully as they form part of the condition See less