A silver horse carriage constructed in Birmingham in the late 1930s has been restored back to India.
Built in 1939 by Birmingham’s Frederick Selby and Co. Ltd, the beautiful carriage was often shipped to India for royal weddings.
The extravagant carriage was shipped from Birmingham to India for grand weddings. Notably Princess Sushila Kumari of Bikaner to Maharaj Kumar Bhagwat Singh Mewar of Udaipur. Princess Sushila was the granddaughter of Sir Ganga Singh ji, and the Bikaner-Udaipur. The wedding was a highlight of the 1940s.
The carriage was used frequently during the 1940s however it was eventually put into storage.
The carriage was put into storage and dismantled and put into storage until the late 1960s.
But in 1969 the infamous carriage was once again set on display in a local museum in Udaipur.
In 2013 a dedicated silversmith gallery was opened commencing the restoration of the opulent carriage.
In January 2014 the silver carriage was once again back in action for the marriage of Mr Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar of Udaipur, grandson of His late Highness Maharana Bhagwat Singh.
The carriage is now part of the City Palace Museum in Udaipur and proudly on permanent display.
It now stands as: “magnificent symbol highlighting the close cultural ties between the two countries”.
The carriage is described as one of the biggest and significant pieces within the Silver Gallery. It is a prime example of the skilled craftsmanship that Birmingham was famous for at the time.
The skilled Birmingham silversmiths demonstrate their capabilities through this creation. Its stunning framework consists of carved wood and steel with thick sheets of silver.
It contains intricate animal and floral patterns across the carriage. They include lions and boars in hunting scenes, a dancing girl on the carriage’s footplate – and prancing cupids on the panel’s rims. The lavish interior includes pink upholstery for the comfort of occupants.
Now back on display in the City Palace Museum, it stands as a shining example of the close cultural and social ties between Britain and India.
Bhupendra Singh, administrator in chief of the Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation, said: “After independence, the silver carriage and all such trappings of wealth and state were stored away.
“Everything connected with the pomp and ceremony had to go. The royal families not only had to live within their means, they also had to be seen to be doing so.
“You couldn’t have extravagances like the buggy – perhaps just a few horses.”
The interior has been re-carpeted and reupholstered. Damage to the axles have been replaced. In the public display it is pulled by two fibreglass horses.
Mr Singh said: “We were clear that we didn’t want the buggy to be displayed on its own. “We also arranged for the animals to match the exact pose shown in the wedding photograph from 1940, allowing us to keep the whole display as authentic as possible.”
