GOLD STATE COACH
The Gold State Coach
Leather replacement
In 2010 the large leather Cee spring straps and stays on the Gold State Coach were replaced, as the originals were over 300 years old.
This highly skilled work was carried out by Johan of Viking Saddlery.
These straps are the suspension that carries the gondola the Royals travel within, allowing them to travel in comfort.
They are made up from several different layers of leather.
The main body has 4 layers of 5.5mm thick bridle leather that is hand stitched with 4 rows of linen thread, each strap is 4m long. There are approximately 16,000 stitches and every one of them is done by hand in the traditional way using two needles and a saddlers awl.
The straps were then wrapped in a calico and finally covered with a vegetable tanned Burgundy leather cover with dark blue binding.
History
The gilded eight horse-drawn State Coach. Designed by William Chambers (1723-96) and made by the coachmaker Samuel Butler; featuring painted panels by Giovanni Cipriani (1727-85) and richly gilded carved sculpture by the carver Joseph Wilton (1722-1803), the gilder Henry Pujolas and the metal chaser George Coyte.
Three cherubs on the roof (representing England, Ireland and Scotland) support the Imperial Crown and four tritons, one at each corner (representing Britain's imperial power). The body of the coach is slung by braces covered with Morocco leather with gilt buckles. The interior is lined and upholstered with velvet and satin. ( Royal Collection Trust)
