RG-2026-009
Tandem No. 204 – French carriage design from "La Carrosserie Française," L. Lagard, Paris
ca. 1880–1900 (Belle Époque, spätes 19. Jh.)
About the Work
This chromolithograph originates from the prestigious Parisian workshop "La Carrosserie Française" by L. Lagard, one of the most important documentation series of French carriage construction during the Belle Époque. The Imprimeries Lemercier was the leading lithographic studio in France at that time, renowned for its exceptional print quality. The artwork features an elegant tandem carriage (No. 204) rendered in a technically precise yet aesthetically captivating side view – a quintessential representation of craftsmanship from the pre-automobile era.
Collector Interest
Equestrian collectors and carriage enthusiasts in the USA, UK, and Japan are willing to pay premium prices for authentic Belle Époque carriage prints from French specialty publications – they are rare on the market and decorative at the same time. The clearly readable Lagard imprint and the Lemercier stamp make the sheet verifiable, making it attractive to international buyers on 1stDibs or eBay International.
Provenance
From a private collection in Zug: This framed original print from "La Carrosserie Française" captures the Parisian carriage-making at the peak of its elegance—just before the triumph of the automobile. L. Lagard published this series as reference works for coachmen, nobility, and affluent citizens who commissioned their carriages from professionals. Today, individual sheets from this series are rarely found in complete and framed condition.
Inscriptions
TANDEM No 204 / Dessiné et Publié par L. LAGARD. 22, Rue des Acacias — PARIS. / LA CARROSSERIE FRANÇAISE. / Déposé. / Imprimeries Lemercier, Paris.