Rolls-Royce "Spirit of Ecstasy" Hood Ornament

01

Artifact Overview

Many early 20th century luxury automobile manufacturers outfitted their vehicles with hood ornaments or mascots. These decorative mascots were not only an advertisement for the company, they were a symbol of the car owner's wealth and good taste. Rolls-Royce affixed versions of this windswept mascot, designed by Charles Sykes, to the fronts of their models.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Hood ornament

Subject Date

1911

Creator Notes

Designed by Charles Robinson Sykes in 1911

Location

On Loan - Shanghai Auto Museum (Anting, Shanghai, China)

Object ID

2005.0.25.1

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Silver (Metal)

Inscriptions

etched proper left of base, by woman's feet: ROLL [illegible] OYCE TO FEB 6 1911
Rolls-Royce "Spirit of Ecstasy" Hood Ornament