A royal carriage commissioned by King William IV has sold at auction for nearly a quarter of a million pounds. The Royal British Mews Landau was snapped up for £247,900 by an online North East Asian buyer at the Bonhams Carriage Collection sale on Saturday. The restored travelling landau - which has deep claret body panels decorated with royal crests and English pattern iron shod red wheels with gold leaf lining - used to belong to the Royal Mews and dates from 1835.
It would have been used to ferry trusted representatives of the royal household across Britain and Europe and possibly the king himself on long journeys. It was previously owned by US collector James Coson whose book on landaus included a foreword by keen carriage driver the Duke of Edinburgh, who described the Coson Collection as "the pride of North America".
A Royal British Mews Landau commissioned by King William IV which has sold at auction for nearly a quarter of a million pounds, by an online North East Asian buyer at the Bonhams Carriage Collection sale
Rob Hubbard, Bonhams Motoring Specialist and auctioneer, said: "Today's sale saw a packed auction room, 100% sold, international bidding, and many items soaring far above estimate to achieve over £1.1 million for the sale. Utilising our international client base and skilled team of specialists, we were able to achieve some great results. The first auction of its kind for Bonhams, it attracted attention from clients all across the globe, with bids coming in from Australia, Mexico, the US, Europe and the Far East - we're delighted with the results."
Bonhams said it was a "white glove" auction with every item sold, raising a total of £1.1 million. An 18th century sledge also went under the hammer, fetching £31,000, as well as two 19th century coaches from rival champagne houses Veuve Clicquot and Moet & Chandon.
