My knowledge of Pre-war mascots is not as profound as that of others, I would therefore direct you to this Bibliography of written works about Rolls-Royce mascots. CLICK HERE TO VIEW
Nevertheless, I can show you a variety of interesting specimens below !
We will start with the “ lost wax ” manufacturing process and polishing.
This small sterling silver mascot was made in 1938 by Garrards to a design by Sykes. It was intended to surmount the desk lamp that Hives planned as a presentation item. They were never produced for obvious reasons !
When the Health and Safety Executive or whatever it was called then, banned rigid radiator top mascots, Rolls-Royce tried a few other ideas before settling on the tilting mascot. These were to have been fitted inside of the top of the radiator shell and could have been illuminated.
Rolls-Royce were able to use their Crewe foundry to produce a variety of smaller and half size mascots for presentation or gift items
And then they got even smaller !
Not all Rolls-Royce Spirits of Ecstasy were made for car mascots. The large sterling silver one shown below was made to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1977.
The glass one also below was made as a display item on a commission from Rolls-Royce by Lalique, in 1992.
Not all mascots were standing ones. Kneeling mascots were used on some pre-war cars and on the first post war Rolls-Royce, the Silver Dawn. Some of us like to see a “ Kneeler ” on a modern car for a change.
In the above picture, the one on the left has a ring or ridge around the base which distinguishes it as being the Silver Seraph type, it is also 1/2 inch smaller than the previous mascots for Shadows, Spirits, Spurs etc.
The one in the foreground has a threaded fitting which indicates that it is for a Silver Cloud from 1955 to 1965.
