PHANTOM SCINTILLA
A Muse Reborn
Often we never really understand the true resonance and impact of the decisions we make until we have a great enough scope to review them in posterity.
This could be said for sculptor Charles Sykes’ decision to employ Eleanor Thorton, Lord Montagu’s secretary, paramour and alleged muse for the now world-famous Spirit of Ecstasy.
In 1910 dissatisfied with the disparity of mascots patrons were choosing as adornments for their beloved Rolls-Royce cars, Managing Director Claude Johnson, the man often described as the hyphen in Rolls-Royce, decided that the marque should create their own figurine. The concept he briefed sculptor Charles Sykes with was an ethereal one:
“Speed with silence, the absence of vibration, the mysterious harnessing of great energy, and a beautiful living organism of superb grace.”
Claude Johnson, Managing Director, Rolls-Royce Cars
The beauty about having such a storied legacy is that it provides inspiration for generations to come, and so it is with Phantom Scintilla, where we see the Spirit of Ecstasy—a muse from yesteryear—reemerge as a muse for today. This time the interpretation takes a new hue, with a modern generation of artisans combining techniques old and new to create a 1-of-10 Private Collection Phantom edition.
As with all Rolls-Royce Phantoms, the final outcome is the work of many, a symphony conducted with each department adding its own tone to the final composition. Scintilla takes the Phantom we know and gives it an even more ethereal grace, much in line with Charles Sykes’ original vision.
Coated in ceramic the Spirt of Ecstasy on Phantom Scintilla appears more delicate in form, the contoured lines softened as the light disperses off the matte, white surface.
The ceramic coating reflective of the Parian marble used to make the original marble muse in Greece, a material that exudes a depth and dimension that gives the impression of pearlescence. Quarried on the Greek island of Paros, this marble is known for its purity and radiance, allowing light to penetrate several centimetres.
Inside Scintilla sees the embodiment of what Rolls-Royce call “painting with thread”, capturing the idea of air flowing over the wings of their muse, suggesting dynamism and ethereal motion. The detail throughout is precise and laborious, featuring the most complex door design ever seen on a Rolls-Royce comprising of no less than 633,000 stitches.
The design extends from the Spirit of Ecstasy itself across all aspects of the Phantom; the exterior of Scintilla is a two-tone bespoke finish of Andalusian White and Thracian Blue, inspired by the translucent sea and bleached white buildings on the island of Samothrace.
The ‘Celestial Pulse’ Gallery artwork captures the fleeting moment of the Spirit of Ecstasy’s presence.
