Charles Robinson Sykes

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For the American politician, see Charles H. Sykes.

"Spirit of Ecstasy"

Charles Robinson Sykes (18 December 1875 – 1950) was an English sculptor, better known for designing the Spirit of Ecstasy mascot which is used on Rolls-Royce cars. He was born in Brotton,^[1] in present day Redcar and Cleveland, England.

The Spirit of Ecstasy, also called "Emily", "Silver Lady" or "Flying Lady", carries with it a story about a secret passion between John Walter Edward Douglas-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.

Sykes was commissioned by Lord Montagu to make a special mascot for his 1909 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost. Sykes produced a small statue of a young woman in fluttering robes with a forefinger to her lips.^[2] It was christened "The Whisper"^[3] and is to this day unique to the Montagu family’s Rolls Royces. The statue is displayed at the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu.

Added by his grandson, Howard Phillips: For scans and photos of his work go to www.rilette.com

References

↑ Eleanor, in body or spirit? - by Paul Tritton, 1986 - Rolls-Royce Owners' Club of Australia Library
↑ Rolls-Royce 'Whisper' Mascot - H&H, auction sale: 8 December 2009
↑ Rolls-Royce History: The Spirit of Ecstasy - iChauffeur

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Persondata
Name	Sykes, Charles Robinson
Alternative names
Short description	British artist
Date of birth	18 December 1875
Place of birth
Date of death	1950
Place of death

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