BRADFORD CART. No 2.
The full size original of this exquisite little cart is housed in a Staffordshire Rural Museum. The original was built in the late 1930s for a Mr Raymond Mories of Bolton. Mr Mories was a painter to Gypsies and 'Gentlemen'. His work was outstanding as depicted by the decoration on this vehicle and of course, presents a challenge to any model maker, with its high painting and many features. Every square inch of the vehicle is decorated! A point of interest is the horse draught gear. This has a chain attached directly to the axle, which in turn is attached to the harness whipple tree. This draught layout gives a much smoother ride when this type of vehicle was driven at speed. The wheels are rubber tyred. The model is constructed using hardwood and brass metalwork.
The decoration comprises of scrollwork, pictures of birds, horses, fruit and wildlife. There are small birds painted in the corners and three on the seat. A picture of badgers appears on the underside of the highly decorated seat. A kingfisher in flight decorates the rear of the facer board and a picture of a horse's head decorates the front face. A total of five horse's heads assist the decoration of this cart, together with, four horse motifs, which are finished, in gold leaf. The inside of the back and sides have mirrors which are etched with pictures of bunches of grapes.
The Ray Amphlett Collection
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