About the Work
This legally deposited design drawing from the esteemed Parisian publication 'La Carrosserie Française' captures the pinnacle of European carriage building just before the advent of the automobile. L. Lagard, based on Rue des Acacias in Paris, published such technical illustrations as a compendium for coach builders and discerning clientele—printed by the renowned lithography firm Lemercier. The meticulous two-color design in black and gold yellow transforms this piece into a striking decorative document of the Belle Époque.
Collector Interest
For American and British collectors of carriage history and equestrian antiques, this is a rare European original print from a now hard-to-access Parisian specialty series. Japanese collectors appreciate the precise technical artistry and the elegant two-color scheme. Interior designers worldwide use such carriage prints as decorative accents in manor and club interiors – framed in original gold frames, ready to hang immediately.
Provenance
The work bears a label on the back from Portmann Einrahmungen Zug – one of the traditional framing studios in Zug. It was therefore once professionally framed and carefully preserved by a collector from Zug or a local institution. The handwritten note in the upper right corner on the back ('from Danzig 1888' or similar, difficult to read) suggests an early date of creation or acquisition. A sheet with a history of Zug framing that brought the elegance of Parisian carriage design from the Belle Époque directly to Central Switzerland.
Inscriptions
CHAR-A-BANCS No 207 / Dessiné et Publié par L. LAGARD. 22, Rue des Acacias. — PARIS. / LA CARROSSERIE FRANÇAISE. / Déposé. / Imprimeries Lemercier, Paris.
