TOY

An incomplete Post Medieval lead alloy toy coach (late 16th century). The composite, openworked coach would have been assembled by its owner from eight component parts: a sheet that would have been folded to form the base and sides, complete with horses; the back panel; the front panel; the roof; and four wheels. Of these parts, the majority of the sides and horses remain, along with two complete wheels with axles, three of the four axle loops, and the front panel with the coach-driver. All of these elements suggest the coach belongs to Forsyth and Egan's Type 1 classification, and therefore a late 16th century date. The back panel and roof have been lost along with two wheels.

The coach sides are almost complete, although one is better preserved than the other. The sides mirror each other, and on both the design is an accurate match to Forsyth and Egan's Type 1, Design 5. The long, trapezoidal openwork frame has two horizontal divisions: above a solid base band of foliate mouldings is a line of arcading arches with knops on the uprights to suggest turning. A square panel beside the window, towards the rear of the carriage, contains a single ring with ring and dot 'collars'. A male passenger with a small hat, brushed up hair, tight-fitting doublet and trunk hose looks out of the door. Complete axle loops extend from three of the sides' four corners; the fourth corner has a scar where the axle would have been. The coach sides are continuous with the coach frame sections and horses. The nine arcaded sections of the sides segue into a pole to hold the coach's horses, at the point where the front panel with driver is inserted into the base and attached with tabs. The horses match Forsyth and Egan's Type 1, Design 9, but the horse with profile to left is far better preserved than the horse of the opposite side. The harness equipment of the horses includes a headstall, bridle, reins, leading rein, rein hanger, loin strap, breechband and diagonally hatched pad cloth. The horses' legs, seven of which remain, have been moulded in a way that suggests movement. The head of the horse with profile to left is missing; a section of the head of the horse with profile to right remains but, like the rest of the horse, is very worn with pieces missing.

Two complete elaborate wheels with axles remain, comparable to Forsyth and Egan's Design 2. The wheels have six turned and arched spokes and a beaded or nailed hoop. The apex of each arch and the junctions between the spokes are secured by collars.

The front panel of the coach is an openwork rectangle with a standing driver, like Forsyth and Egan's Type 1, Design 6. The diagonally hatched frame is slightly wider at the top and three diagonal struts support the moulded standing figure of a driver. He holds a whip in his raised right hand and wears a high-crowned, conical hat, doublet, trunk hose, nether stockings and garter.

Forsyth and Egan suggest that the ornate openwork of the Type 1 miniature coach represents the opulent carving and other embellishments of the finest coaches of the aristocracy at the time. Furthermore, the frames may have originally had an internal sheet of foil to give the impression of solidity, an interpretation supported by the fact that only the upper halves of the passengers peeking from the side doors are visible.

Dimensions (estimated): Height: 39.1mm; height of front panel: 25.46; width: 64.84mm; width of horse: 25.91mm; thickness: 18.9mm; diameter of wheels: 18.15mm.

Reference: Forsyth, H. and Egan, G. (2005) Toys, Trifles & Trinkets: Base-Metal Miniatures from London 1200 to 1800 London: Unicorn Press