Brek

A brake is a hunting carriage with a wicker basket-type body, open, with four wheels, an additional high bench and two vis-à-vis seats. The carriage was purchased by Roman Potocki, third Łańcut ordynat and used during the famous autumn hunting seasons in Łańcut, organised in a team of five horses. The carriage was used by the huntsmen to get to the hunting appointments in the company of a dog ˗ as it has a dog cage placed under the coachman’s box. Given the significant weight of the carriage and its intended use for the transportation of as many as 10 persons ˗ the coachman with the servant on the box, two huntsmen on the bench behind the box and six other persons in the wicker basket-type body, a team of five horses had to be used for pulling it. This luxury hunting brake is in the natural wood and wicker basket colours. The coachman's box with a wedge seat are upholstered with beige corduroy. In the box, there is a dog cage ˗ with a flap on the front wall of the box and with doors with blinds on each side. On the left hand side of the box, a wheel of the manual brake was assembled. Behind the coachman's box, there is a higher seat for two persons with a back rest. Behind it, there are three handles for rifles and on the sides, handles for two lamps, with front window panes with vertical white and emerald stripes (in the colours of the Potocki coat of arms, Pilawa). At the rear, there is a long basket-type body with folded edges with entrance from the back, with two long seats facing sideways inside, each for three persons. The seats with high back rests are padded and upholstered with beige corduroy. The brake of the Potocki family in Łańcut preserved in the original condition is one of few vehicles of this type in Europe. Aldona Cholewianka-Kruszyńska