Char-Á-Bancs###

A gentleman's sport brake, to be driven without servants, pulled by a team of four or six horses. The carriage belonged to Alfred Antoni Potocki, and earlier to Mikołaj Potocki from Paris. It was brought to Łańcut in 1923, as part of inheritance after Mikołaj Potocki, who made a distant cousin, Alfred Antoni Potocki, fourth Ordynat, his successor. It was purchased by Count Mikołaj Potocki from the Parisian company Labourdette. In Łańcut, it was used to get to hunting appointments. The described brake has a very strong structure of the chassis and a chest-type, simple, short black body with rectangular doors on both sides of the body with metal folded stairs. At the front, there is a high gentleman's box, in front of it a sloping large footstool with a brake pedal and a clock case. On the box, next to the soft gentleman’s wedge seat, there is space for the accompanying person with a back rest, rounded at the corner. The upholstery of the box was made of brown leather, and the wedge seat of bright velveteen. At the sides of the box, there are handles for two rectangular lanterns. Behind it, there is a lower two-person seat with a back rest and metal side railings, upholstered with brown leather; a black wicker basket for walking sticks and umbrellas is hanging by the railing. In the passenger section, there is also an elongated footstool. It has fitted cantilevers that support a two-person bench for servants, with a seat rounded at the corners with a back rest and metal side railings. The seats are upholstered with brown leather. At the front of the servant’s bench, there are metal handles for two rifles. The chassis is varnished in black, with gold stripes and lining. The brake of the Potocki family in Łańcut is one of few vehicles of this type in Europe. It has been preserved in the original condition, which is exceptional. Aldona Cholewianka-Kruszyńska