The story of the world famous Rolls Royce Spirit of Ecstasy symbol
04-10-10, 02:18 PM
#1
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
The story of the world famous Rolls Royce Spirit of Ecstasy symbol
The Spirit of Ecstasy, also called "Emily", "Silver Lady" or "Flying Lady", was designed by Charles Robinson Sykes and carries with it a story about a secret passion between John Walter Edward Scott-Montagu, (second Lord Montagu of Beaulieu after 1905, a pioneer of the automobile movement, and editor of The Car magazine from 1902) and his secret love and the model for the emblem, Eleanor Velasco Thornton. Eleanor was John Walter's secretary, and their 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. John-Walter, succumbing to family pressures, married Lady Cecil Victoria Constance, but the secret love affair continued.
Eleanor died on 30 December 1915, going down with the SS Persia, when the ship was torpedoed off Crete by a German submarine, whilst she accompanied Lord Montagu on his journey to India, four years after she had been immortalized by her bereaved lover.
The Whisper
When Montagu commissioned his friend Sykes to sculpt a personal mascot for the bonnet of his Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, Sykes chose Eleanor Thornton as his model. Sykes originally crafted a figurine of her in fluttering robes, pressing a finger against her lips - to symbolise the secrets of their love. The figurine was consequently named The Whisper.
The very first Rolls-Royce motorcars did not feature radiator mascots; they simply carried the Rolls-Royce emblem. This, however, was not enough for their customers who believed that such a prestigious vehicle as a Rolls-Royce motorcar should have its own luxurious mascot, and by 1910 personal mascots had become the fashion of the day. Rolls-Royce were concerned to note that some owners were affixing "inappropriate" ornaments to their cars. Claude Johnson, then managing director of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, was asked to see to the commissioning of something more suitably dignified and graceful.
He turned to Charles Sykes, a young artist friend and a graduate of London's Royal College of Art, to produce a mascot which would adorn all future Rolls-Royce cars and become generic to the marque, with the specifications that it should convey "the spirit of the Rolls-Royce, namely, speed with silence, absence of vibration, the mysterious harnessing of great energy and a beautiful living organism of superb grace..."
The Spirit of Speed
Sykes' brief from Claude Johnson had been to evoke the spirit of mythical beauty, Nike, whose graceful image was admired in The Louvre, but Sykes was not impressed. He felt that a more feminine representation might be apt.
It was again Miss Thornton whom he had in mind. Sykes chose to modify ‘The Whisper’ into a version similar to today's; ‘The Spirit of Ecstasy’. He called this first model The Spirit of Speed. Later, Charles Sykes called it "A graceful little goddess, the Spirit of Ecstasy, who has selected road travel as her supreme delight and alighted on the prow of a Rolls-Royce motor car to revel in the freshness of the air and the musical sound of her fluttering draperies." He presented the mascot to the company in February 1911.
Some critics and fans of the Rolls Royce have given The Spirit of Ecstasy the dubious nickname "Ellie in her Nightie", suggesting Eleanor's influence as Sykes' muse.
Claude Johnson devised the description of The Spirit of Ecstasy, he described how Sykes had sought to convey the image of "the spirit of ecstasy, who has selected road travel as her supreme delight......she is expressing her keen enjoyment, with her arms outstretched and her sight fixed upon the distance."
Royce was ill during the commissioning of the flying lady. He did not believe the figurine enhanced the cars, asserting that it impaired the driver's view, and was rarely seen driving one of his company's vehicles adorned with the mascot.
Sykes' signature appeared on the plinth and were either signed "Charles Sykes, February 1911" or "Feb 6, 1911" or "6.2.11". Even after Rolls-Royce took over the casting of the figures in 1948 each Spirit of Ecstasy continued to receive this inscription until 1951.
The Spirit of Ecstasy was also manufactured by the British firm Louis Lejeune for a number of years.
Alterations
Royce made sure it was officially listed as an optional extra, but in practice it was fitted on almost all cars after that year, becoming a standard fitting in the early 1920s. Automobiles change with the times, and the Spirit of Ecstasy was no exception. It was silver plated from 1911 until 1914 when the mascot was made with nickel or chrome alloy to dissuade theft. The only departure from this came in Paris at the competition for the most apposite mascot of 1920, where a gold-plated version won first place. Gold-plated versions were subsequently available at additional cost.
Although it seems unchanged, the mascot had eleven main variations in its life. Lowered height of coachwork forced subsequent reductions in the mascot size. Consequently, several alternations in the original design were made.
Sykes was once again commissioned by Rolls-Royce in the 1930s to make a lower version of the mascot to suit the sports saloons.
[edit]Kneeling version
The kneeling lady mascot was unveiled on 26 January, 1934, and was as undeniably a reflection of Eleanor as it was a symbol of the Rolls-Royce. It also bore on the plynth the inscription "C. Sykes, 26.1.34", the date when the first piece was finished. This version was, however, discontinued after the Silver Wraith, the Silver Dawn and Phantom IV models, in favour of a smaller version of the original standing mascot, and so it remains to date.
The Flying Lady
In the United States the mascot is called The Flying Lady. The Flying Lady was a modified version of The Spirit of Ecstasy figurine to make it bow a little farther in order to protect the bonnet.
Modern Spirit of Ecstasy
Today's Spirit of Ecstasy stands at 3 inches and, for safety, is mounted on a spring-loaded mechanism designed to retract instantly into the radiator shell if struck from any direction. There is a button within the vehicle which can retract/extend the emblem when pressed. She can be made of highly polished stainless steel, sterling silver or 24-carat gold, the sterling silver and gold being optional extras.
Eleanor died on 30 December 1915, going down with the SS Persia, when the ship was torpedoed off Crete by a German submarine, whilst she accompanied Lord Montagu on his journey to India, four years after she had been immortalized by her bereaved lover.
The Whisper
When Montagu commissioned his friend Sykes to sculpt a personal mascot for the bonnet of his Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, Sykes chose Eleanor Thornton as his model. Sykes originally crafted a figurine of her in fluttering robes, pressing a finger against her lips - to symbolise the secrets of their love. The figurine was consequently named The Whisper.
The very first Rolls-Royce motorcars did not feature radiator mascots; they simply carried the Rolls-Royce emblem. This, however, was not enough for their customers who believed that such a prestigious vehicle as a Rolls-Royce motorcar should have its own luxurious mascot, and by 1910 personal mascots had become the fashion of the day. Rolls-Royce were concerned to note that some owners were affixing "inappropriate" ornaments to their cars. Claude Johnson, then managing director of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, was asked to see to the commissioning of something more suitably dignified and graceful.
He turned to Charles Sykes, a young artist friend and a graduate of London's Royal College of Art, to produce a mascot which would adorn all future Rolls-Royce cars and become generic to the marque, with the specifications that it should convey "the spirit of the Rolls-Royce, namely, speed with silence, absence of vibration, the mysterious harnessing of great energy and a beautiful living organism of superb grace..."
The Spirit of Speed
Sykes' brief from Claude Johnson had been to evoke the spirit of mythical beauty, Nike, whose graceful image was admired in The Louvre, but Sykes was not impressed. He felt that a more feminine representation might be apt.
It was again Miss Thornton whom he had in mind. Sykes chose to modify ‘The Whisper’ into a version similar to today's; ‘The Spirit of Ecstasy’. He called this first model The Spirit of Speed. Later, Charles Sykes called it "A graceful little goddess, the Spirit of Ecstasy, who has selected road travel as her supreme delight and alighted on the prow of a Rolls-Royce motor car to revel in the freshness of the air and the musical sound of her fluttering draperies." He presented the mascot to the company in February 1911.
Some critics and fans of the Rolls Royce have given The Spirit of Ecstasy the dubious nickname "Ellie in her Nightie", suggesting Eleanor's influence as Sykes' muse.
Claude Johnson devised the description of The Spirit of Ecstasy, he described how Sykes had sought to convey the image of "the spirit of ecstasy, who has selected road travel as her supreme delight......she is expressing her keen enjoyment, with her arms outstretched and her sight fixed upon the distance."
Royce was ill during the commissioning of the flying lady. He did not believe the figurine enhanced the cars, asserting that it impaired the driver's view, and was rarely seen driving one of his company's vehicles adorned with the mascot.
Sykes' signature appeared on the plinth and were either signed "Charles Sykes, February 1911" or "Feb 6, 1911" or "6.2.11". Even after Rolls-Royce took over the casting of the figures in 1948 each Spirit of Ecstasy continued to receive this inscription until 1951.
The Spirit of Ecstasy was also manufactured by the British firm Louis Lejeune for a number of years.
Alterations
Royce made sure it was officially listed as an optional extra, but in practice it was fitted on almost all cars after that year, becoming a standard fitting in the early 1920s. Automobiles change with the times, and the Spirit of Ecstasy was no exception. It was silver plated from 1911 until 1914 when the mascot was made with nickel or chrome alloy to dissuade theft. The only departure from this came in Paris at the competition for the most apposite mascot of 1920, where a gold-plated version won first place. Gold-plated versions were subsequently available at additional cost.
Although it seems unchanged, the mascot had eleven main variations in its life. Lowered height of coachwork forced subsequent reductions in the mascot size. Consequently, several alternations in the original design were made.
Sykes was once again commissioned by Rolls-Royce in the 1930s to make a lower version of the mascot to suit the sports saloons.
[edit]Kneeling version
The kneeling lady mascot was unveiled on 26 January, 1934, and was as undeniably a reflection of Eleanor as it was a symbol of the Rolls-Royce. It also bore on the plynth the inscription "C. Sykes, 26.1.34", the date when the first piece was finished. This version was, however, discontinued after the Silver Wraith, the Silver Dawn and Phantom IV models, in favour of a smaller version of the original standing mascot, and so it remains to date.
The Flying Lady
In the United States the mascot is called The Flying Lady. The Flying Lady was a modified version of The Spirit of Ecstasy figurine to make it bow a little farther in order to protect the bonnet.
Modern Spirit of Ecstasy
Today's Spirit of Ecstasy stands at 3 inches and, for safety, is mounted on a spring-loaded mechanism designed to retract instantly into the radiator shell if struck from any direction. There is a button within the vehicle which can retract/extend the emblem when pressed. She can be made of highly polished stainless steel, sterling silver or 24-carat gold, the sterling silver and gold being optional extras.
Last edited by I8ABMR; 04-10-10 at 02:32 PM.
04-10-10, 02:25 PM
#2
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
I was looking at these shots from the rolls at my sister in laws wedding ( and it was the same Rolls Royce that took me and my wife to the church on the day of the wedding) and it inspired me to post this..
I think the story behind the creation of the symbol is really cool because it involves this hidden love affair. Cool stuff and it gives us a break from all of the standard car chat topics.
I think the story behind the creation of the symbol is really cool because it involves this hidden love affair. Cool stuff and it gives us a break from all of the standard car chat topics.
04-14-10, 01:42 PM
#6
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
you guys are very welcome. I am glad to see we have some members who actually appreciate the history. Most members just comment on or discuss modern cars only and it usually doesnt go further than aesthetics, power, and engines.
I think info like this or the info I posted on the Cavalino Rampante ( Ferrari symbol) and how its related to the Porsche emblem is refreshing, informative, and distinguishes you from the "other "car guys". i
I think info like this or the info I posted on the Cavalino Rampante ( Ferrari symbol) and how its related to the Porsche emblem is refreshing, informative, and distinguishes you from the "other "car guys". i
04-15-10, 02:15 PM
#7
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
I am surprised this thread is getting no love. I am pretty sure most members are not aware of this info. OH well....it was worth a shot. You can lead a horse to water..............
Trending Topics
04-15-10, 02:56 PM
#8
Lexus Fanatic
Today's Spirit of Ecstasy stands at 3 inches and, for safety, is mounted on a spring-loaded mechanism designed to retract instantly into the radiator shell if struck from any direction. There is a button within the vehicle which can retract/extend the emblem when pressed.
04-15-10, 02:59 PM
#10
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
I can only imagine that to replace that symbol would be in the thousands. Needless to say people dont usually leave their RR's at the mall......unless you are in UAE
04-15-10, 03:00 PM
#11
Lexus Fanatic
I don't usually criticize auto companies for copycat styling (to me, it's not usually a big issue), and I generally have a high opinion of Hyundai, but it's obvous that their new Equus luxury sedan's hood ornament is blazenly copying the R/R Flying Lady. I don't think it will impress many people. Don't get me wrong.....I generally like hood ornaments, and personally think that too many vehicles have given them up, but if you are going to have one, at least put some originality into it.
04-15-10, 04:02 PM
#13
Lead Lap
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: WA
Posts: 442
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I take mine to the mall, but there are places I won't leave it. It's usually left alone. Also there is a delay on the keyless retraction of the Spirit of Ecstasy, I'm not sure why.
04-15-10, 04:23 PM
#14
Lead Lap
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: WA
Posts: 442
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hey I8ABMR, do you know where that plum RR photo was shot? I saw that same color in San Diego about a year ago and it was a stunning car. I believe it was a 2004 and extremely well maintained. It looked new.
04-15-10, 04:58 PM
#15
Lead Lap
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: WA
Posts: 442
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I made a quick video and posted on YouTube of the S of E retraction and what happens in an impact.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUEbzexS1K0
You have to cycle the key a few times to get it to reset.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUEbzexS1K0
You have to cycle the key a few times to get it to reset.