Laundaulet, or Demi Landau

Description

Summary

Also known as a diligence or chariot, the demi-landau is a form of private carriage popular in the 19th century with a single seat facing forward (an ordinary landau is larger, with two facing seats). They offered passengers an unobstructed view for traveling, particularly if driven by a postilion. Postilion is also easier on the driver as it is more comfortable to ride in as saddle for a journey than on a hard coach box. The convertibles of their day, demi-landaus featured a folding leather top, or head, that could be folded back while the front part of the carriage was removed to make it open. Those S-shaped pieces on the top are part of the folding mechanism, and on a fancy carriage these might be silver-plated. (S-shaped ornaments called “landau irons” can be seen today on some customized automobiles today). Demi-landaus were the most widely used form of personal carriage. Their smaller size made them useful for manoeuvring narrow city streets as well as on country roads, and the smaller size also made them more economical. A nicely appointed demi-landau cost around £115. This was still out of the price range of the vast majority, but for the rising middle class, a demi-landau was often the first step in “keeping” a carriage. Regency fans will know: Jane Austen and her characters would have been completely at home in a demi-landau.