Rolls Royce Figurehead

Description

The Rolls Royce ‘Spirit of Ecstasy’ figurehead was created in 1909 by artist Charles Sykes, using Eleanor Thornton as the model. The figurehead continues to adorn every Royce that rolls out of the factory, but this item did not come from the bonnet of a Silver Phantom. It is a to-scale cast in aluminium of the original steel (or sometimes gold) emblem, evidently created as a desk ornament, or a replacement figurehead to lighten the weight of the vehicle when driving (or even perhaps to prevent theft). The replica is identical in every way and even has a hole in the base where the original fitting screw would have been inserted. It would sit comfortably on a mantelpiece, desk or windowsill, to fulfil its original purpose as defined by Rolls Royce: To encapsulate the pursuit of personal liberty and freedom from conformity. The figurehead measures 90x80cm.