AFA 22nd Anniversary

2022 Antiques & Fine Art 89 a separate car mascot or as part of a hood ornament. Some car brands continued to successfully employ the same motif (e.g., Pontiac’s Indian, Dodge’s Ram, Peugeot’s Lion) in both mascot and hood ornaments. The best way to appreciate mascots is by seeing them in person. There are a number of public collections in the United States and abroad. Some of the largest U.S. collections are in the Gilmore Car Museum, which houses the Classic Car Club of America Museum (Hickory Corners, Michigan), and the Antique Automobile Club of America (Hershey, Pennsylvania). There are excellent smaller collections at the Nethercutt Car Collection (Sylmar, California), REVs (Naples, Florida), and the Lalique Glass Mascot Collection at the Mullin Automotive Museum (Oxnard, California). It’s time to recognize that the finest car mascots are in reality great masterpieces of sculpture, and that mascots deserve to be as admired and cherished as classic cars. Jon Zoler is author of The Art of the Car Mascot (2019) and Car Mascots and Hood Ornaments—the Transformation (2021); both available through carmascots99@gmail.com. Ex amples from his car mascot collection will be on view in two exhibitions in 2022. The first opens in January and runs through June at REVs Automotive Institute, Naples, Florida, and features twenty-nine glass mascots by Lalique, Red Ashay, and other makers. The second exhibit opens in March and continues until February 2024 at the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum in Auburn, Indiana, and will include 200 car mascots and hood ornaments.  Jon N. Zoler is a private collector. previous page clockwise from upper left Minerva, by Pierre de Soete for Minerva (Belgium), ca. 1929. Silver-plated bronze; Height 5.7 in, Length 4.3 in. Collection of the author. Minerva, the daughter of Jupiter, was the goddess of wisdom, war, and the arts. The Belgian car company, Minerva, was named after her. It produced luxury cars from 1902 until 1938. This large and heavy mascot by sculptor Pierre de Soete was designed in the high Art Deco style. It was only used on the prestigious Minerva Model 40 CV 8-cylinder limousines. Spirit of Ecstasy , by Charles Sykes for Rolls Royce (England), 1911-1914. Silver-plated bronze; Height of head 5.7 in, Wing span 4.1 in. Collection of the author. Rolls-Royce has been producing world class automobiles since 1906. In 1911, English sculptor and illustrator Charles Sykes created the “Spirit of Ecstasy” mascot. It is one of the most recognizable mascots and symbols in the world. There are several stories about the identity of the mascot’s female model. The most credible is that it was family friend Violette Raphoul. Not only did she frequently serve as Sykes’ model, but historical photographs of probable models, including Violette, show her strong facial and body likeness to the mascot. This early mascot was manufactured using the “lost wax” or “cire perdue” method. This costly process produces mascots with extremely fine details. Mickey Mouse by Desmo, 1930. Chrome-plated bronze; Height 5.5 in. Collection of the author. This is the earliest and rarest Mickey Mouse car mascot. Produced by the Desmo mascot factory in Great Britain, it depicts a happy Mickey celebrating with an upturned thumb. The early attribution is supported by the inscription: “Reproduced By Consent of Walter E. Disney.” Draped Nude , by Lucille Sevin of Etling (France), ca. 19230s. Molded blue/ white glass with amber core; Height 8.1 in. This beautiful draped nude glass mascot by Etling of France takes full advantage of luminescence provided by opalescent glass. Designed by Lucille Sevin, one of the most acclaimed Etling designers, “Draped Nude” is reported to be inspired by Isadora Duncan, a famous American and French modern dancer. Victoire , by Lalique (France), circa 1928. Molded lead glass; height 5.1 in, length 10.4 in. Collection of the author. Lalique’s “Spirit of the Wind” or “Victoire,” introduced in 1928, is his largest and longest mascot. The goddess has an aggressive appearance and her long hair is composed of deeply sculpted Art Deco shapes. This mascot when illuminated would certainly leave a memorable impression. “Victoire” is generally regarded as one of the finest glass mascots ever made.