SPIDER PHAETON
Black with red; canework at back of seat. Trimmed in blue broadcloth.
In 1888, G. N. Hooper (feature writer for Driving magazine) wrote: “For some years the young men of fashion have driven a small Stanhope phaeton. They are now giving place to spider phaetons, a sort of Tilbury body on four wheels, with a neat little seat for the groom behind, supported on branched irons; most of them have a folding head over the front body.
“Those first made had a trembling and vibrating motion; but with more solid construction ... they have become not only comfortable, but with more refined designs and construction, more stylish in appearance. They carry a lady and gentleman on the front seat comfortably, and the hind seat is made of such size as to carry only one person, and the groom runs no chance of having his dignity hurt by his master or one of his friends having to sit beside him.”
This spider phaeton was built in Paris, France by Muhlbacher.
Gift of Mrs. Gambrill in memory of her husband, Mr. Richard V. N. Gambrill
