This Parisian phaeton was made by S. Cund of Wolverhampton in about 1900 for the 20^th Earl of Shrewsbury and Talbot.  It was built as a leisure vehicle and was usually pulled by a single pony.  It was last used as recently as the Second World War, when petrol was rationed.

Phaetons are four-wheeled open carriages designed to be owner driven rather than cochaman driven.  Many of the most elegant phaetons were French-made – they and their English copies were called ‘Parisian’ phaetons.  The passengers sat opposite each other (face to face, or ‘vis-à-vis’).

The Parisian phaeton became popular during the 1880s. Its low, wide entrance was convenient for the large skirts women wore at the time.

Phaetons varied tremendously; from high-seated dashing vehicles for sporting gentlemen to low slung, low-entry carriages of this type, designed as Ladies Driving Phaetons. The example shown here was part of the collection of vehicles owned by the 20^th Earl of Shrewsbury and Talbot. It was built in 1900 and used regularly as late as the Second World War when petrol was rationed.

Accession Number: 64.064.0013