ANTIQUE ORIGINAL OIL PAINTING SIGN BY PETER BARRY 1877’ CARRIAGE MODEL

Description: Peter Barry (b. June 1839, d. date unknown) was heraldic artist for Brewster Carriage Company. He painted family crests of wealthy families on carriages. The Brewster Carriage Company had its earliest roots in the early nineteenth century (For a detailed history see: http://www.coachbuilt.com/bui/b/brewster/brewster.htm; also see Wikipedia). The company ceased business but restarted around 1857 in New York City. The company became the most respected carriage builder in the United States and its Bronson wagon ("Brewster wagon") around 1870 became the elegant carriage of the wealthy. It is likely that the carriage depicted in the Barry painting is a six-passenger Bronson wagon. Brewster Carriage Company exhibited 13 of their carriages at the Exposition-Universelle in Paris in 1878. This exhibition featured display of the completed head of the Statue of Liberty. Brewster Company was awarded several gold medals at the 1878 Exposition for carriages and crafts. Apparently Barry received one of these gold medals for his heraldic (and other?) artwork. He also won an honorable mention at the United States Centennial in Philadelphia in 1876. (An intriguing speculation by A. Greenberg is that the painting purchased in Portsmouth, NH, and dated 1877, might actually have been part of the Brewster exhibit in Paris in 1878). The Long Island Museum (1200 Route 25A, Stony Brook, NY) recently acquired 2 of Peter Barry's heraldic art pieces, dated 1876 and 1878). The Brewster Company made the transition from elegant carriages to elegant car bodies (e.g. for Rolls-Royce America). The company kept an extensive file of family crests: Astors' - blue; J.P. Morgan- dark green; Vanderbilts'- a shade of maroon. Many famous owners, e.g. Al Jolson. The quality and fame was such that in the 1934 Cole Porter song:

Price: 6749.25 USD

Location: Sherman, Connecticut

End Time: 2025-01-13T03:20:21.000Z

Shipping Cost: 75 USD