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curricle

A curricle is a light, two-wheeled carriage drawn by a single horse. It originated in Britain in the late 18th century and remained popular into the early 19th century. The design prioritized speed and display, featuring a slender chassis and large wheels, with seating for two occupants: the driver and a passenger on a second cushion seat.

Curricles were commonly used for social drives, country excursions, and racing, and they became a symbol of

The curricle coexisted with other light carriages, including the gig and the phaeton, but its emphasis on

By the latter half of the 19th century, broader carriage designs and rising costs reduced its popularity,

urban
fashion
and
rural
leisure
for
the
upper
classes.
The
vehicle
is
frequently
depicted
in
art
and
literature
of
the
Georgian
and
Regency
eras,
where
its
sleek
silhouette
and
ornate
harness
conveyed
status.
speed
and
style
helped
it
stand
out
in
contemporary
portraiture
and
social
scenes.
and
the
advent
of
motorized
transportation
accelerated
its
decline.
Today
the
curricle
survives
mainly
in
historical
contexts
as
part
of
the
study
of
horse-drawn
transport
and
the
visual
culture
of
its
period.