It was given by Louis XIV of France to his cousin on her marriage to King Afonso VI in 1666.
The carved woodwork decorations and the painting on the rear panel representing royalty are preserved from the original construction but modifications to the wheels were made in the 18th century. The suspension system is made up of four chairs of large, strong straps covered with crimson silk velvet. In this example besides the "swan’s neck" front system of wheels, it already has a suspension spring connection to the body.
The front of the carriage is dominated by the coachman’s seat and its respective footrest and by the so-called fifth wheel. This is a mechanism compromising two superimposed circular pieces that increase the manoeuvring ability of the coach.
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