From The Baskerville Carriages – A History Re-written. By Amy Bracey
The Nottingham Industrial Museum houses two extraordinary 18th-century carriages: a Landau and a Post Phaeton. Previously previously believed to belong to Thomas Baskerville, High Sheriff of Wiltshire in 1698. More recent analysis suggests they date to the mid-18th century, around 1750. The intricate craftsmanship and design, particularly the undercarriage and ironwork, align with other notable carriages from this period, such as the Beaumanor and Trewinnard Coaches. Shared components like door handles and sway strap loops suggest the use of the same foundry or coach builder.
The Landau stands out for its elaborate decoration, reflecting a continental influence unusual in England at the time. Its style suggests the involvement of a European craftsman, further supporting a mid-18th-century origin. Interestingly, both carriages display a coat of arms, but its authenticity raises questions (see below). The left side features a genuine Baskerville family crest, but the right side’s design appears to be made up. Additionally, the wolf’s head crest deviates from the traditional Baskerville emblem, with the arrow pointing upwards rather than downwards.
Research revealed the carriages likely belonged to John Baskerville, a Birmingham-based japanner and printer, rather than the aristocratic Baskerville family. John Baskerville, known for introducing the famous Baskerville typeface and advancements in printing, was a man of taste and innovation. His wealth and experience in japanning—a lacquerware technique—allowed him to create or commission ornate items, including these carriages.
The Landau is particularly significant as it represents an early example of its type, introduced to England from Germany around 1750 but not widely adopted until decades later. Its advanced design and dazzling decoration reflected Baskerville’s forward-thinking nature. Meanwhile, the Post Phaeton is the only known surviving 18th-century example of this type of carriage.
By Amy Bracey, Project Curator and Trustee, The Carriage Foundation.
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Points to note about their appearance.
Elaborate Decoration: The Landau is noted for its highly ornate design, with decoration far more intricate than typical English carriages of the mid-18th century.
Ironwork Similarities: The carriages feature iron components, such as sway strap loops (a type of anti-roll bar) and door handles, identical to those on other mid-18th-century carriages, suggesting a shared source of craftsmanship.
Coat of Arms Display: The coat of arms on the carriages is prominently featured, with large crests and decorative panels on the doors and sides, though one side includes a fabricated design.
Carved Crests: Both carriages display a family crest carved into the woodwork around the door panels and crossbars—a highly unusual feature, as family crests were typically painted rather than carved.
Delusions of artistocartic origins.
These carriages associated with John Baskerville of Birmingham bear a spurious coat of arms and an altered family crest resembling that of the aristocratic Baskervilles, featuring a wolf’s head with an arrow passing through its mouth rather than pointing downwards. A 1989 curator’s letter suggests these carriages were likely not owned by Thomas Baskerville, High Sheriff of Wiltshire, and casts doubt on their aristocratic origins. John Baskerville, a successful japanner and printer, may have adopted these symbols to emulate aristocracy. John had no right to the Baskerville coat of arms, nor the family crest.
“A coat of arms on the side of a carriage usually displays two families coming together in matrimony. On the Baskerville carriages the right side of the coat of arms makes no sense. It belongs to no one in particular and appears to be made up or fake which is slightly disconcerting.” – AB