Restoration carriage Lady’s Phaeton, from the 19th century, manufactured by Cesare Sala (Italy). Full historic restoration using artisan processes by Carruajes Romero in 2019.
History
This four-wheeled vehicle, belonging to the family of the Phaeton (one of the largest within the different types of carriages), is characterized by a box with a low and wide entrance with a curved forward dashboard over an advanced forward axle to allow the ladies with wide dresses of the time to access the carriage comfortably between the front and rear wheels. It has a hood and in the back it has a box to carry some luggage or some travel equipment.
Its builder, Cesare Sala was an Italian coach manufacturer whose company was located in Milan on Semponie Street No. 45 and on Calle de Porta Nuovan No. 34 from the year 1887 to the year 1933.
Among his first works, we remember the carriages made for some prominent personalities of the high Austrian and Piedmontese aristocracy. In 1871, at the Italian Industrial Exhibition held in Milan, he exhibited two impressive carriages, one specially commissioned for the Prince of Naples.
State of conservation and diagnosis
In this project, and after carrying out in a first phase the due studies of historical research together with the physical methods of image examination that allow us to make the diagnosis of the state of conservation and determine the factors of alteration and pathologies, we can immediately appreciate a important attack of xylophagous insects, possibly active and appreciable through numerous holes present in the lower box area, along with the deterioration and breakage of the seat of the box.
The oxidation is almost complete in all the fittings (leaf springs, impellers, axle, etc.) and there is a high number of cracks and fissures, both in the box, basses and wheels with deformities in turns and shafts.
There is a general aging of the hood material; observing undernourished areas, cracks, breaks and loss of supports. In addition, the interior upholstery is totally deteriorated, presenting generalized dirt and moisture stains.
Restoration project
The action proposal is addressed under the principle of material conservation and full recovery of the functionality of the vehicle, but respecting its authenticity, through a minimum performance in terms of material and chromatic reintegration, respecting at all times the fundamental principles to be taken into account in any action, stability, reversibility and discernibility.
In general lines after the corresponding mechanical cleaning, disinsection and cleaning of the oxidation, polishing and adjusting all the deformations of the metals will proceed to perform the different treatments for the box, springs, wheels, upholstery, lanterns, metals, and shafts with the corresponding painted in red with green and lacquered as final protection.
We emphasize in this project the complete restitution of the hood in leather with its interior in blue cloth, together with the elimination of all degraded varnishes and non-original paintings. As a detail, the owner’s shield is added in red.
