Rolls Royce Musical Tantalus with the “Silver Sprit of Ecstasy” Mascot

Rolls Royce radiator musical decanter sprit of Ecstasy Mascot 1960s-1970s Rare Rolls Royce musical decanter Large desk ornament, Rolls Royce musical decanter with the “Silver Sprit of Ecstasy” Mascot by Charles Sykes Silver Spirit This is a cast metal model radiator with the Rolls Royce mascot...

Hand Held Magnifying Glass with Faceted Glass Handle A lovely piece for your study in good vintage condition with a chunky knob handle The Glass is 8”...

French 2 pot inkwell stand with a Hunting Retriever Dog This is a very attractive desk top inkwell, the centre of the stand is set with a curly coated retrie...

French Arts and Crafts oak stationary box with Tambour This very attractive French Box is made in Oak in the Arts and Crafts style, it has a...

A charming Victorian hand carved pine stationary box The Box is good quality and in very good condition for its age, the hand carved sloping doors on...

A Good Old Oak Stationary or Letter Box, with pen Holder This is a very useful piece, the box is made in oak, it has 6 graduated letter compartments inside and a pen or ruler holder...

A large vintage decorative Rolls Royce silvered bronze sculpture, The Spirit of Ecstasy, dating from the mid 20th century. The winged maiden was designed by Charles Robinson Sykes (1875-1950), and she stands on an attractive round black marble plinth base. In 1910 Rolls-Royce slowly became aware that some owners were affixing 'inappropriate' ornaments to their cars. Claude Johnson's brief to Sykes was to sculpt a mascot for Rolls Royce that embodied 'speed with silence, absence of vibration, the mysterious harnessing of great energy and a beautiful living organism of superb grace' to become the standard emblem of the Rolls-Royce brand and it was Sykes' daughter, Jo (born 1908) that believed it was on the road from London to Beaulieu that her father first became 'Very impressed with the smoothness and speed of the Rolls Royce car.... imagining that even so delicate a thing as a fairy could ride on the bonnet without losing her balance.' In early 1911 Sykes' presented his mascot, entitled "The Spirit of Speed", to Rolls-Royce. This figurine had her arms outstretched behind her and her gaze firmly fixed forward. She was soon retitled "The Spirit of Ecstasy" by Johnson and became the official symbol of Rolls-Royce automobiles on 6th February 1911. It is a striking piece thought to be a former Rolls Royce car showroom sculpture. Condition: In excellent condition, please see photos for confirmation of condition. Dimensions in cm: Height 70 x Width 31 x Depth 42 Dimensions in inches: Height 2 foot, 4 inches x Width 1 foot x Depth 1 foot, 4 inches The Spirit of Ecstasy is the bonnet ornament on Rolls-Royce cars. It is in the form of a woman leaning forwards with her arms outstretched behind and above her. Billowing cloth runs from her arms to her back, resembling wings. The Spirit of Ecstasy, also called "Emily", "Silver Lady" or "Flying Lady", was designed by English sculptor Charles Robinson Sykes and carries with it a story about secret passion between John Walter Edward Douglas-Scott-Montagu, (second Baron Montagu of Beaulieu after 1905, a pioneer of the automobile movement, and editor of The Car Illustrated magazine from 1902) and the model for the emblem, Eleanor Velasco Thornton. Eleanor (also known as Thorn) was the secretary of John Walter, who fell in love with her in 1902 when she worked for him on the aforesaid motoring magazine. Their secret love was to remain hidden, limited to their circle of friends, for more than a decade. The reason for the secrecy was Eleanor's impoverished social and economic status, which was an obstacle to their love. On the other hand, Montagu was married to Lady Cecil Victoria Constance Kerr since 1889. Eleanor died on 30 December 1915 when the SS Persia was torpedoed by a U-boat south of Crete. She had been accompanying Lord Montagu who had been directed to assume a command in India. He was thought to have been killed too, but survived and was saved after several days adrift in a life raft...

Photo frame headlight grill from Rolls-Royce silver shadow. For two pictures. In polished stainless steel finish.  

"Sitting Kewpie" or "The Thinker", Car Mascot Hood Ornament, 1910´s. Made of silvered bronze, mounted over a green and white mrble base. Can de used as a desk paperweight. Originally appearing in the form of magazine illustrations between 1905 and 1909, Kewpie dolls...

Large tantalus, hidden to appear as a stack of five books, its hinged lid opens to reveal the interior with a compartment dressed with a central liquor bottle and four old fashion gl...

Art Deco silvered bronze cobra Car Mascot / Hood Ornament / Paperweight or Watch stand by Rischmann, France, 1920s. Silvered bronze sculpture of a cobra figure, mounted on a light br...

A fine, early and very unusual Palais Royal Cupid and Harp musical box with two-air cylinder movement. The finely modelled cupid sits upon an Empire stool and plays a classical 16 s...