Scattered around the National Coach Museum are some of things used by the unsung heroes of the Royal Riding Hall. These are the coachmen, postillions and grooms, and all that are getting the parades and pageantry going.
Table of Contents
Pomp and Circumstance
This phrase comes from Shakespeare’s play Othello and refers to the impressive clothes, decorations, music, etc. that are part of an official ceremony. And these royals really know how to put up a good show.
Head Coachman of the Royal House
19th century
Portuguese-style ceremonial livery.
Groom of the Royal House
19th century
Portuguese-style ceremonial livery.
Postilion of the Royal House
19th century
Portuguese-style ceremonial livery.
Silver maces of King José I
Goldsmiths: António Gonçalves; Carver: José Marcelino | 18th century, Portugal | 76 cm x 21.3 cm | Silver, wood
Insignia used by the Gatekeepers of the Royal House, the “maceiros”, in front of the Royal processions with the coat of arms of King José I.
Tabards
Unknown | 18th century, Portugal | 128 cm x 104 cm | Red brocade
Tunics used by the Kings of Arms, noble officers who opened the royal processions.
Collar of the Kings of Arms (King José I)
Unknown | 18th century, Portugal | Gilt silver
Chain with medallion in silver gilt with the coat of arms of King José I.
“Negrinha” staff
Unknown | 18th century, Portugal | 133.8 cm x 5 cm | Ivory, ebony and brass
Used by the chief steward of the royal house. Made of ivory and ebony. The end piece represents the head of an African woman.
Military Band
Coming from a musical background of military band and wind bands I was naturally attracted to these artefacts of the royal military band.
Trumpeter of the Royal Band
Unknown | 18th-19th centuries, Portugal | Velvet, gold galloon
Uniform jacket of the trumpeter; uniform corduroys; uniform waistcoat; bicorne hat.
Saddlecloth, Holster covers, Caparison
Unknown | 18th century, Portugal
Equestrian accoutrements. The saddlecloth was placed over the saddle. The holster covers hid the pistols. The caparison covered the horse’s croup.
Drum skirts
18th century
Wrap for dump in red velvet with gold trimming.
Royal Wind Band music books
18* century (1760-1770)
Leather binding with gold engraving.
War drum of the Royal House
Unknown | 18th – 19th century, Portugal | Wood, leather, iron
Drum used to mark the marching rhythm in military deployments
Saddlecloth (King José I)
18th century
Embroidered with silver gilt with the coat of arms of King José I. Used to cover a horse’s saddle.
Drum skirts
18th century
Wraps for drum made of damask silk with gold trimmings.
Royal Brass Band
Unknown author | 1761, Portugal | 9 cm x 11 cm x 71.4 cm | Silver, golden silver cord, wood
Group of trumpets, kettledrums and their players, a total of 28 musicians. Silver wind instrument, belonging to the “Corps of Wind Instruments of the Trumpets of the Court or Royal Band”. On the instrument are the Portuguese Royal Arms.
Hunting horns
Fundição de Cima | 19th century, Portugal, Lisbon
Brass instruments made at the Royal Military Arsenal at the workshops of the Fundição de Cima, Lisbon.
Royal Riding Accessories
Just like modern garages, the royal riding hall takes care of all the riding accessories of the royal families.
Shafts
Unknown author | 18th century, Portugal
Wooden beams that served to separate the horses of the first team.
Portuguese coach harness (King José I)
Unknown author | 18th century, Portugal
Portuguese type harnesses for the royal coaches decorated with the Portuguese Coat of Arms of the period of King José I. It belonged to a set for a team of 8 horses.
English-style coach harness
Unknown author | 18th century, England
In this mount the neck strap is placed on the horse’s neck to relieve the pressure on it.
Arabian horse harness, saddle and stirrups
19th century, Morocco
In 1878 the Sultan of Morocco, Muley Hassam offered to the King of Portugal, Luis I a set of Arabian horses and harnesses that were exhibited here, together with their saddle and stirrups.
Saddlecloth (Marquis of Ponte de Lima)
18th century
With the coat of arms of the Marquis of Ponte de Lima. Used to cover a horse’s saddle.
Portuguese saddle (Marquis of Fronteira)
18th century
It belonged to the Marquis of Fronteira.
Saddle chair (Prince Carlos)
19th century, Italy
Saddle in black leather and plaited straw with a safety belt and, on the back, a silver medallion.
Children’s riding accessories given by the King of Italy, Vitoria Emanuele II, to his grandson, Prince Carlos of Portugal, in 1868.
Small kerchief
Wool kerchief decorated with the crowned monogram of Prince Carlos.
Harness
Comprising headgear, bridle, curb chain and reins.
Children’s stirrups
Several models.
«Neto» outfit
19th century
Worn by the youth dubbed “Neto” who opened Portuguese bull fights. It belonged to Prince Manuel.
Travelling the 18th~19th century
Travelling between long distances in the 19th century was not an easy nor comfortable task. The stagecoach was a public vehicle where passengers paid to ride long distances. Stagecoaches ran on a schedule and were typically pulled by four horses. Periodically, horses were changed out for a fresh team.
Brass boxes for epauletters
Epaulette is a type of ornamental shoulder piece or decoration used as insignia of rank by armed forces and other organisations.
Firearms and case
Luggages of different sizes and forms
Travelling trunk, box, chest and brass box for bicorne (two cornered) hats
Large lamps
18th century
Olive oil painted brass lamps with two flames. They were used to accompany the carriages, on foot.
Camp bed
Unknown author | 18th century, Portugal | 55 cm x 53 cm x 99 cm | Leather, wood, iron and canvas
Adjustable bed with its own chest. It was part of the equipment used on military campaigns and on long trips.
Wheels, Change Tool, Shaft and Postillion Boots
18th – 19th century
Vehicles break down, and there’s no AA to call. These are some of the tools that these coachmen had to use to get the journey on the road.
About National Coach Museum
The National Coach Museum houses one of the most important collections of horse drawn carriages in the world, making this a highly recommended place to visit.
On May 23, 1905, by the initiative of Queen Amelia of Orleães and Bragança, wife of King Carlos I, the Royal Coach Museum was inaugurated in the Old Riding Arena.
When the Republic was established in 1910, the Museum was renamed National Coach Museum (Museu Nacional dos Coches).
This museum houses an important horse-drawn carriage collection of vehicles are from the seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth century.
The museum was formerly housed in the Royal Riding Hall of Belém, the former home of the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art, known as the Picadeiro Real. The Picadeiro Real is part of the larger Belém Palace complex, formerly a Royal Palace, which is now the official residence of the President of Portugal.
In the Royal Riding Arena it is still possible to see some vehicles, oil paintings of the monarchs of the Bragança dynasty and a set of saddles and harnesses related to the Equestrian Art.
The new museum building was inaugurated on May 23, 2015. The horse-drawn vehicles belonging to royal palaces of the Crown, the Church and various noble houses are exhibited in chronological order revealing the different models used, their characteristics and evolution from the 16th century until the end of the 19th century.
Opening Hours:
Tuesday through Sunday: 10am to 6pm. Mondays: closed.
Closed: January 1st, May 1st, Easter Sunday, June 13th, 24th and 25th December.
Visited Aug 2023
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