Phaeton—American Carriage—Barouche

Plate showing three carriages of increasing dimensions from top to bottom.

The small phaeton depicted here, similar to the Stanhope, was usually driven by its owner, which explains the folding top fastened to the front seat, the back seat being that of the water-resistant footman. On larger, more family-friendly phaetons, the top could sometimes be shifted from one seat to another.

The “American” carriage could probably fit in the light brett family, if one agreed to disregard the absence of a folding top on the back seat. Bretts were a much lighter American carriage inspired by the European traveling britzka.

Finally, a convertible barouche is seen here in its fully enclosed state.

The captions read in the original: Petit phaéton à coffre à couvercle—Américaine à 3 parcloses—Nouvelle calèche à siège élevé.