The George IV Phaeton was originally designed and built in 1824 by William Cook for the King of England. George IV had always enjoyed driving. As he got older and considerably heavier and wider, he found that entering and exiting traditional carriages became difficult. The George IV design was built low to the ground to afford easy access. These carriages were also known as ladies phaetons or park phaetons. During the summer, a Park Phaeton was a fashionable carriage in which a lady could take air and enjoy driving her pair. The curving dashboard was so designed that it obliterated the horses' quarters from view to save the lady any embarrassment.

The George IV in the Winmill Collection is small and designed to be drawn by ponies. The larger horse size usually had a rumble seat in the rear to accommodate a groom.

REFERENCE: Looking At Carriages, Sallie Walrond 1992
Prairie Primer, Kenneth Kopitzke
MAKER: Giovanni Coppoha, Castile Spain