Vis-á-Vis

A vis-á-vis is a country carriage, pulled by four or two horses. It was purchased in a renowned coach building firm, Nesselsdorfer Wagenbau, at the end of the 19th century. This elegant country carriage in a natural wood colour was one of several carriages which Roman Potocki, third ordynat, purchased for the Łańcut coach house from Nesselsdorfer Wagenbau. The described carriage was used for trips around the estate and primarily to get to hunting appointments during the famous Łańcut hunting seasons, organised in the autumn. The carriage, with a light body truncated in the section of the two two-person seats positioned vis-à-vis, has a leather roof over the main seat, i.e. forward facing. At the front, there is a coachman's box. Both seats are upholstered with smooth sand-colour corduroy; the main seat has a full back rest, while the seat in front of it has a back rest with railings made of rod trimmed with leather, next to which upholstered elbow rests were placed. The roof is attached with a belt to the rear side of the coachman’s box. This double-stitched belt is equipped with a nickel-plated mechanism that allows for folding it quickly and easily. At the sides of the box, lanterns were placed and on the right hand side, there is the manual brake lever. The front fender and the side mudguards, curved and connected with a metal stair at the footstool, are made of wood. The vis-à-vis of the Potocki family in Łańcut preserved in the original condition is one of few vehicles of this type in Europe. Aldona Cholewianka-Kruszyńska