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Pebble Hill's Phaeton
“Fast, sporty and dangerous” is the short description of a Phaeton, and you would, of course, expect to find one in the collection of vintage carriages at Pebble Hill. Miss Pansy’s Phaeton is a beautiful wooden carriage with seats for only the driver and one friend. The large wheels are typical of the type. A cantering horse throws up a great deal of dirt and mud; but the driver of this carriage is protected (to some degree) by high fenders, a wood dashboard and the glass wind screen. Did I mention dangerous? Note that there are no sides to this carriage and certainly no seat belts. The lightness of the carriage adds to its speed, but light does not hold the road like heavy. Note the very small leaf side springs and the minimum of undercarriage—light but perilous. The lanterns indicate that this carriage was rigged out for 
night driving. Can you imagine flying over dirt roads with no more protection than this carriage provides and only the light of two oil lanterns? The Phaeton was the Porsche of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Pebble Hill’s is a beautiful example.
See the Pebble Hill Phaeton and other fine antique carriages in the Carriage House located on the south end of the stables complex.
Archives:
Plantation Baseball
Trophy in Big Room
Seymour Style Furniture
English Regency Table
Aiden Lassell Ripley
Antique Lectern
The Chippendale Lantern
The Apothecary Chest
The China Collection
