AFA 22nd Anniversary

2022 Antiques & Fine Art 87 employed a thermometer device mounted on top of their car radiator, which indicated the water temperature. Because most early car cooling systems had a low water boiling point, the engine could overheat and become damaged; knowing the temperature of the water was important information. The most famous and popular of these temperature devices was the Boyce MotoMeter, patented in 1912, with more than ten million MotoMeters sold. In addition, many radiator ornaments incorporated both a mascot and a thermometer device. While some mascots were produced as ea rly a s 1905, their era of greatest prominence was in the 1920s and 1930s. As car body styles changed, the radiator was hidden under the car’s hood, but it was still fashionable to have a mascot sitting on top of the hood above the hidden radiator. With a few prominent exceptions, such as Rolls Royce and Mercedes Benz, virtually all car mascots and hood ornaments had disappeared by 1960. Like all works of art, mascot designs reflect the time period in which they were made. Major themes used by mascot creators were women (especially nudes or semi-nudes), men, animals and birds, mythological subjects, cartoon characters, famous people, fraternal organization emblems, and humorous situations. In the 1910s, through the early 1920s, women were a major theme. Realistically depicted, they were among the most carefully crafted mascots ever made. Starting just before World War I, under the influence of the prevalent Art Deco style, mascot designs featured linearity, sharp angular forms, pronounced curves, and ultra-smooth surfaces. Motifs were borrowed from the Middle East, Africa and Asia, cubism, and other modern features. In the 1930s, auto designers began streamlining car bodies. To fit in with the modern look, car mascots were added to long, sculpted chrome strips. This is when the term “hood ornament” was introduced. As this transition took place, the same mascot might serve either as In 1924-25, Citroen sponsored an auto expedition that crossed the African continent to demonstrate the capability of their vehicles to transverse challenging terrains. In commemoration, the French sculptor Francois Bazin created this mascot inspired by the African Princess Nobosodrou. The Princess was of the Mangbetu people in former Belgium Congo. The Mangbetu women had characteristic elongated heads and circular hair weaves and were considered by Westerners as the visual ideal of African beauty. La Croisier Noire , by François Bazon for Citroen (French), 1925–1930. Nickel-plated composite metal; Height 4.3 in, Length 5.7 in. Collection of the author. This is one of the most elegant and well-loved car mascots. It was created by Francois Bazin who in World War I was a pilot in Georges Guynemer’s French fighter squadron. Bazin designed a “Black Stork” logo that was painted onto the squadron’s planes. After the war, Hispano-Suiza, which supplied engines for the French fighters, asked Bazin to create this Stork Mascot for its state-of-the art automobiles. Hispano-Suizas, manufactured from 1904 until 1938, had highly advanced technical features and were extremely expensive, costing one-third more than Rolls-Royces. Stork, by Francois Bazon for Hispano-Suiza (Spanish), ca. 1920. Chrome-plated bronze; Height 4.7 in, Length 8.3 in. Collection of the author.