Description
Introduction
This listing is for a superb early 20th-century Art Deco original kneeling Spirit of Ecstasy mascot, designed by the celebrated sculptor Charles Robinson Sykes and dated 26th January 1934. This is the desirable sporting version of the Rolls-Royce mascot, a wonderful small sculpture in its own right and a rare survivor, especially in signed and dated form with respected auction-house provenance.
& Form
The figure represents Eleanor – the famous model for the Rolls-Royce mascot – caught in a dramatic kneeling pose. She leans forward into the wind, arms swept back so that her flowing drapery billows out behind her like wings. The modelling is crisp and full of movement: folds of drapery swirl around her legs, the torso twists with the forward momentum and the face retains a surprisingly sensitive expression for such a small object. You can feel with your fingertips how finely the cloak thins at the edges, and how the sculptor has used rippling surfaces to suggest speed and air rushing past the body.
The piece is cast in metal and finished in chrome plate, which gives it a cold, weighty, engineered feel that perfectly suits the mechanical glamour of a Rolls-Royce radiator. This is the lower kneeling Spirit of Ecstasy that Rolls-Royce introduced in the 1930s for its new sporting saloons, giving drivers a clearer view of the road over the bonnet. Sykes was commissioned again by the company to redesign his famous emblem, and he responded with this elegant, swept-back figure, unveiled on 26 January 1934 – the very date inscribed on the base of this example. The kneeling version was used only for a relatively short period before the firm reverted to a reduced standing mascot, so correctly signed kneeling mascots are far less common on the market than later standing figures and modern service replacements.
Around the lower side of the base you can clearly read the incised signature “C. Sykes”, together with the date “26.1.34”. The underside has the original threaded fitting, allowing the mascot to be re-mounted on a car if desired, but it also stands beautifully as a free-standing sculpture on a desk, shelf or display plinth. In the hand it has an excellent, concentrated weight, approximately 400 grams unwrapped, confirming the quality of the casting.
Dimemsions
In terms of size, this mascot stands about 8.5 cm high. The base is roughly 3.2 cm wide, and the total length from outstretched foot to trailing edge of the cloak is about 10 cm. It is a compact, jewel-like object that still commands attention thanks to the sweep of the wings and the strong diagonal line of the pose.
Historcial Background & The Love Story
The Spirit of Ecstasy is traditionally associated with the secret love affair between John Walter Edward Douglas-Scott-Montagu, 2nd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu – early motoring pioneer and editor of The Car Illustrated – and his beautiful secretary Eleanor Velasco Thornton, who served as Sykes’s model and muse. Their relationship, conducted in the Edwardian era against a backdrop of strict social convention, has become part of Rolls-Royce legend and gives these mascots an emotional resonance beyond their decorative and mechanical function.
Sykes first portrayed Eleanor as a private mascot called “The Whisper”, finger to lips to symbolise their hidden romance. He later refined the idea for Rolls-Royce as the standing Spirit of Ecstasy that became the company’s most famous emblem. In the 1930s he was commissioned again to create this lower, sporting kneeling version for the new streamlined saloons, giving drivers a clearer view of the road while preserving the sense of elegance, speed and silent power that the Rolls-Royce name represents.
Rarity
Original kneeling Spirits of Ecstasy such as this are widely recognised as scarce. They were produced for a relatively short span of years and were vulnerable to loss, damage and later replacement during a car’s life, unlike modern service mascots which are still easily obtainable. Signed, dated examples by Charles Sykes sit in a different league from generic accessory mascots: they are direct works by the original designer and relate closely to pieces in museum collections and major private holdings.
Provenance
The piece comes with attractive and reassuring provenance. From a private Berkshire collector then It was acquired from a high-end classic-car auction held by the respected auction house Richard Edmonds in the southern shires, a name well known among serious motor and automobilia collectors. This sort of provenance – a genuine, signed mascot sourced from a specialist classic-car sale rather than a casual flea-market find – is exactly what discerning buyers look for when comparing examples and assessing authenticity.
Collecting Context & Notable Collectors
Collectors’ interest in Spirit of Ecstasy mascots is strong worldwide. Important private enthusiasts and marque specialists have assembled large groups of Sykes mascots over the decades, and notable collections have been sold through international auction houses, where sets of vintage Spirits – including kneeling versions – have realised significant sums. This activity underlines the desirability of these diminutive sculptures in their own right, quite apart from the cars to which they were once attached.
Museums such as the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu display early Sykes mascots, including The Whisper and various Spirit of Ecstasy variants, treating them as works of sculpture as much as emblems of the marque. Owning a signed, dated kneeling example places the buyer in distinguished company alongside these private collectors, dealers and institutions, and offers the opportunity to add a museum-grade object to a personal collection or interior.
Why You'll Love It
A perfect blend of beauty, engineering and story: an Art Deco design icon, directly linked to Rolls-Royce’s golden age and the romantic legend of Eleanor Thornton.
Ideal as a display piece for your desk, study or showroom, bringing instant heritage luxury and a real conversation starter without needing the car present.
Exactly what serious automobilia collectors look for: early kneeling version, signed and dated by C. Sykes, with respected Richard Edmonds auction provenance and attractive, honest patina.
Condition
Condition is best described as good, honest and gently worn. The chrome retains an attractive soft sheen but shows the expected patina from age and use. There are small scuffs and scratches, scattered spots of light tarnish and oxidation, minor rust speckling and some ingrained dirt in the folds of the drapery and around the base. This is natural weathering that you would expect on a genuine period mascot and sits well with its age and character.
There are no obvious later repairs, no modern re-engraving of the signature or date and no harsh machine polishing that would have flattened the details of the modelling. The piece could be professionally detailed if a brighter, more mirror-like finish is preferred, but many collectors value the present patina as proof of authenticity and history. Prospective buyers are encouraged to examine the photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the description.
Worldwide Shipping
It will be professionally packaged and fully insured for safe global delivery.
Click “Buy It Now” to secure this sculptural masterpiece before it’s gone.
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Payment
[We accept the following payment methods, bank transfer all major credit cards & debit cards through ebay & cash on collection.]
Shipping
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Terms of Sale
[Returns are accepted within 60 days of the buyer receiving the item(s). Our mission is to give buyers total confidence in buying from us. Each of our items has been researched & provenance given where available. Please contact us immediately if you have any questions we will respond promptly.
Return postage, shipping costs are to be paid by the buyer. Also any customs costs charges are also the responsibility of the buyer. The item(s) must be returned back to us in its original as sold described condition before any refund can be made back to the buyer. Deposit payments are non refundable. We certify that all of our selling activities will comply with all EU laws & regulations. After Sales, you can contact us by email or call if you would like to discuss any further questons with regards to your purchase.
About Us
Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD. Registered office located in Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London.
Source the Historic! British & European Fine Arts, paintings, sculptures & valuable collectibles! From the antique 17th century to the modern contemporary era. Founded in 2005 and still run today by fellow Directors Michael, and Victoria, for nearly two decades, coming from an academic background, overseeing all historical research. Supporting the daily operations at Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD & directing our social media campaigns, we've been taking art collectors, hobbyists, and interior aficionados on a journey through time. Our passion is sourcing the very best historic collections that the arts and antiques world has to offer and to-date, we have worked directly with private clients through to commercial corporate organisations, museums, auctioneers, art agents & dealers being their leading collaboration partners as Fine Arts consultants. Certified elected members of the Fine Art Trade Guild.
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Condition
Used
Buyer's Premium
20%
Rare Rolls Royce Kneeling Spirit Of Ecstasy Car Mascot By Charles Sykes C1934
$1,620.00
$2,500
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