Vatican Museums

Produced in Rome by the Casalini brothers, renowned carriage manufacturers, during the papacy of Pius IX, whose coat of arms is painted on both doors. Arranged as a “throne room”, the passenger compartment of this Gala Berlin is covered with a canopy depicting the dove of the Holy Spirit finely embroidered with silver thread, emanating golden rays.
As shown by the emblems of Pius IX and Pius X, painted on the right and left doors respectively, the carriage was used during various pontificates until the beginning of the twentieth century.
The four corners are surmounted with plumes which, according to protocol, indicate the “Papal Service”, and it is therefore probable that it was used only for solemn events.