Karnataka carriage of Mysore Maharaja up for auction in UK

It is being offered by Historics at an estimated auction value of ?70,000-100,000 (approx Rs 80 lakh)

A horse-drawn state carriage owned by the erstwhile Maharaja of Mysore will be auctioned in the UK on November 24. Specialist classic vehicle auctioneers, Historics at Brooklands, will put the extremely rare Indian artifact up for auction.

Acquired by the UK vendor some two years ago, the coach has enjoyed some light restoration work, and is now being offered by Historics at an estimated auction value of £70,000-100,000 (approx Rs 80 lakh) representing an opportunity to purchase an extremely rare Indian artifact, one for the private collector or as a museum centrepiece.

The coach, which dates back to 1825 and is believed to be of British origin, was used for engagements by the Maharaja to transport European royalty - including His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales.

Given the elegant design and sumptuous detailing, the coach can appropriately be described as a work of art, as indeed can be seen in a wall painting of it at the Mysore Palace Museum in Karnataka, about 140 km from Bangalore.

The imposing carriage 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 16 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 moldings and finials.

The exterior houses two seats that would have been used for servants and courtiers.

The coach — one of a significant number of antiques offered by the Maharaja in 1974 — was successfully auctioned that year in Australia, and later exhibited at the Fine Art and Antiques Fair in London in 1991.