The Imperial and Royal Oberststallmeisteramt and the Vehicles of the Vienna Court (1860-1918/22)

Since the 1990s, efforts have been underway throughout Europe to explore and analyse the history of historical land vehicles (carriages, sledges, sedan-chairs and litters) in their many and diverse aspects, a study that for the most part has been neglected until now. At the Kunsthistorisches Museum, a three-year research project (P 14226) financed by the FWF began in 2001 to analyse and evaluate in a scientific manner the historical vehicles of the Vienna court that have been preserved in the collection of historical ceremonial and utilitarian vehicles (Wagenburg, Schönbrunn). In the course of this project, the files of the Oberststallmeisteramt (HHStA, Vienna, Imperial Office of the Master of Horses, which was responsible for the imperial transport fleet) dating from the 18th century to 1860 have been processed. This material had never been dealt with before. In an extension of that work, the present project will process the archival records dating from 1860 to 1922 (when the Oberststallmeisteramt was disbanded), so that by the end of the project all the files of this court office will have undergone scholarly investigation. The Oberststallmeisteramt was responsible not only for the court`s fleet of vehicles (Wagenburg) but also for the imperial stud, the riding schools and the entire system of court transport. On the one hand, the analysis and evaluation of its files provides insights into the organisation of this office, largely unfamiliar until now, while, on the other hand, it sheds light on important aspects of life at court, especially with regard to court travel, transport and representation. In addition, the material offers a large quantity of diverse information about the social situation and everyday life of lower court servants. Special attention is being paid, of course, to research into the objects preserved from the holdings of the Oberststallmeisteramt and now in the Wagenburg of the Kunsthistorisches Museum (vehicles, harnesses and yokes for horses, livery and court uniforms), which mostly date from the period after 1860. Important findings are thus expected regarding the history of their origins and use, which for the most part are still unknown. All documents are being recorded in an electronic data bank, which is linked to the electronic inventory of the collection, so that by summoning the data for a given object in the collection, it immediately becomes clear which relevant archival records are available. The data bank will thus provide an important basis for the creation of a two- volume catalogue of the collection, the publication of which is one of the most important goals of the project. The first part will be a scholarly catalogue of the courtly means of transport in the Wagenburg. The second part will put the Vienna holdings into a broader international and interdisciplinary context. Taking into account the history of art, culture, technology and everyday life, it will deal in detail with the history of coach-making in Vienna as well as the acquisition and use of the imperial transport fleet. At the same time, it will examine the significance of coaches in courtly use with regard to the history of art and representation.

Since the 1990s, efforts have been underway throughout Europe to explore and analyse the history of historical land vehicles (carriages, sledges, sedan-chairs and litters) in their many and diverse aspects, a study that for the most part has been neglected until now. At the Kunsthistorisches Museum, a three-year research project (P 14226) financed by the FWF began in 2001 to analyse and evaluate in a scientific manner the historical vehicles of the Vienna court that have been preserved in the collection of historical ceremonial and utilitarian vehicles (Wagenburg, Schönbrunn). In the course of this project, the files of the Oberststallmeisteramt (HHStA, Vienna, Imperial Office of the Master of Horses, which was responsible for the imperial transport fleet) dating from the 18th century to 1860 have been processed. This material had never been dealt with before. In an extension of that work, the present project will process the archival records dating from 1860 to 1922 (when the Oberststallmeisteramt was disbanded), so that by the end of the project all the files of this court office will have undergone scholarly investigation. The Oberststallmeisteramt was responsible not only for the court`s fleet of vehicles (Wagenburg) but also for the imperial stud, the riding schools and the entire system of court transport. On the one hand, the analysis and evaluation of its files provides insights into the organisation of this office, largely unfamiliar until now, while, on the other hand, it sheds light on important aspects of life at court, especially with regard to court travel, transport and representation. In addition, the material offers a large quantity of diverse information about the social situation and everyday life of lower court servants. Special attention is being paid, of course, to research into the objects preserved from the holdings of the Oberststallmeisteramt and now in the Wagenburg of the Kunsthistorisches Museum (vehicles, harnesses and yokes for horses, livery and court uniforms), which mostly date from the period after 1860. Important findings are thus expected regarding the history of their origins and use, which for the most part are still unknown. All documents are being recorded in an electronic data bank, which is linked to the electronic inventory of the collection, so that by summoning the data for a given object in the collection, it immediately becomes clear which relevant archival records are available. The data bank will thus provide an important basis for the creation of a two- volume catalogue of the collection, the publication of which is one of the most important goals of the project. The first part will be a scholarly catalogue of the courtly means of transport in the Wagenburg. The second part will put the Vienna holdings into a broader international and interdisciplinary context. Taking into account the history of art, culture, technology and everyday life, it will deal in detail with the history of coach-making in Vienna as well as the acquisition and use of the imperial transport fleet. At the same time, it will examine the significance of coaches in courtly use with regard to the history of art and representation.