Anonymous European artist Design for Sedan Chair ca. 1775-80 watercolor Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |
Anonymous European artist Design for Sedan Chair ca. 1775 watercolor Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |
Severio della Gatta Midwife with Baby transported to church in Sedan Chair for Christening 1827 watercolor Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |
Severio della Gatta Journey by Sedan Chair with Mt Vesuvius in background 1828 watercolor Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |
Phiz (Hablot K. Browne) Mr. Winkle's Situation when the Door blew-to 1837 steel-engraving Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens |
Mr. Winkle jumped out of bed, wondering very much what could possibly be the matter, and hastily putting on his stockings and slippers, folded his dressing-gown round him, lighted a flat candle from the rush-light that was burning in the fireplace, and hurried downstairs.
"Here's somebody comin' at last, ma'am," said the short chairman.
"I wish I was behind him with a bradawl," muttered the long one.
"Who's there?" cried Mr. Winkle, undoing the chain.
"Don't stop to ask questions, cast-iron head," replied the long man, with great disgust, taking it for granted that the inquirer was a footman, "but open the door."
"Come, look sharp, timber eyelids," added the other encouragingly.
Mr. Winkle, being half asleep, obeyed the command mechanically, opened the door a little, and peeped out. The first thing he saw, was the red glare of the link-boy's torch. Startled by the sudden fear that the house might be on fire, he hastily threw the door wide open, and holding the candle above his head, stared eagerly before him, not quite certain whether what he saw was a sedan-chair or a fire engine. At this instant there came a violent gust of wind; the light was blown out; Mr. Winkle felt himself irresistibly impelled on to the steps, and the door blew to, with a loud crash.
"Well, young man, now you have done it!" said the short chairman.
Mr. Winkle, catching sight of a lady's face at the window of the sedan, turned hastily round, plied the knocker with all his might and main, and called frantically upon the chairman to take the chair away again.
"Take it away, take it away," cried Mr. Winkle. "Here's somebody coming out of another house; put me into the chair. Hide me! Do something with me!"
All this time he was shivering with cold; and every time he raised his hand to the knocker, the wind took the dressing-gown in a most unpleasant manner.
– Charles Dickens, from chapter 36 of The Pickwick Paper (1837)
Carrington Bowles The Return from a Masquerade (in a Sedan Chair) - A Morning Scene 1784 hand-colored mezzotint Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
Isaac Robert Cruikshank A Cruise to Covent Garden (in a Sedan Chair) 1806 hand-colored etching Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
George Cruikshank Pride and Exaltation in a Sedan Chair before 1878 engraving Achenbach Foundation, San Francisco |
Paul and Thomas Sandby The Piazza, Covent Garden, London (with row of unoccupied Sedan Chairs for hire) 1770 drawing British Museum |
Charles James Grant Satirical Print - Whig Politicians carrying Daniel O'Connell in a Sedan Chair before 1837 wood-engraving, letterpress Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
Anonymous Italian craftspeople Sedan Chair ca. 1750-60 carved and gilded poplar and lindenwood, gilt-bronze mounts Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York |
Anonymous Italian or French craftspeople Sedan Chair ca. 1750 gilt-wood, gilt-metal, painted panels California Palace of the Legion of Honor, San Francisco |
Anonymous Italian craftspeople Sedan Chair ca. 1750 gilt-wood, red leather, gilt-bronze Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
Anonymous French craftspeople Sedan Chair ca. 1745-75 Painted wood, metal fittings Victoria & Albert Museum, London |