Rolls Royce mascot - The Spirit of Ecstasy

@JudyEv (382483)
Rockingham, Australia
March 12, 2023 5:12am CST
The Rolls Royce mascot is sometimes erroneously called the ‘Flying Lady’ but is more correctly the ‘Spirit of Ecstasy’. So the notice at the Whiteman Park Motor Museum in Western Australia says. The mascot first appeared on Lord Montague’s Rolls Royce Silver Ghost and was fitted to all Rolls Royce cars after 1921. Lord Montague’s private secretary, Eleanor Thornton, was the model for the mascot, which was sculpted by Charles Sykes. In 1915, Lord Montague, who was then Inspector of Mechanical Transport in India, and accompanied by Eleanor, sailed on SS Persia to return to his post in India. As the ship approached the isle of Crete on December 30, it was hit by a German torpedo. Lord Montague was rescued after four days in a lifeboat but Eleanor drowned. The image is in the public domain via Wikimedia Commons, courtesy Charles Robinson Sykes.
12 people like this
10 responses
rebelann1949
@rebelann (117269)
• El Paso, Texas
12 Mar 23
That's some interesting history on the subject, I've never seen a rolls royce except on TV so I didn't know what that item on the hood was.
2 people like this
rebelann1949
@rebelann (117269)
• El Paso, Texas
13 Mar 23
Oh wow, I wouldn't have thought it would be huge.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382483)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Mar 23
@rebelann Sorry, I meant the car rather than the mascot.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382483)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Mar 23
The one on display was pretty mind-boggling - so huge and beautifully polished.
1 person likes this
rakski
@rakski (156709)
• Philippines
13 Mar 23
That's a good I formation for us. I did not know that
2 people like this
rakski
@rakski (156709)
• Philippines
13 Mar 23
@JudyEv they really have a very creative mind
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382483)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Mar 23
Car manufacturers come up with some very lovely mascots.
1 person likes this
OceanTiara
@RebeccasFarm (91297)
• United States
12 Mar 23
Oh yes I know this mascot well. Thanks now for all this about the Rolls. I had no idea about that story.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382483)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Mar 23
Lord Montague was lucky to survive but it's a shame poor Eleanor drowned.
1 person likes this
Anna
@LadyDuck (502798)
• Italy
12 Mar 23
My husband new very well the representative of Rolls Royce in Monte Carlo. He always invited us at the Rolls Royce party. He asked to Bulgari to manufacture a golden "Spirit of Ecstasy" for a party to introduce a new Rolls Royce model. Can you believe that a guest stole the statuette during the party? I know that person was caught by the security.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382483)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Mar 23
My comment disappeared. Fancy someone having the nerve to steal the statuette. I bet he wouldn't get invited again.
1 person likes this
DianneN
@DianneN (254926)
• United States
12 Mar 23
Lucky that hood ornament wasn't ripped off the car. Mercedes had to redesign their cars, because of the vandalism of ripped off hood ornaments. People!
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382483)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Mar 23
It's such a shame that this happens. So many good things/times are spoilt by stupid people.
1 person likes this
DianneN
@DianneN (254926)
• United States
13 Mar 23
@JudyEv So true.
1 person likes this
LindaOH
@LindaOHio (222806)
• United States
14 Mar 23
Would love to have a hood ornament like that! Interesting.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382483)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Mar 23
It's quite the thing. Someone said they don't have mascots so much anymore because they get stolen. It's such a shame.
Judy Story
@jstory07 (148771)
• Roseburg, Oregon
13 Mar 23
Interesting history. I just learned something.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382483)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Mar 23
I'm pleased. You won't need to learn anything else now - not for today, anyway. lol
Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (21492)
• London, England
12 Mar 23
I don't think they put them on modern cars, as they were worried about the damage that could be done to anyone hit. Or maybe they are spring loaded these days!
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382483)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Mar 23
Is that so? I didn't know that but it makes sense. Vince had a mate sitting on the bonnet of a car once, put the brakes on and the friend slid off the front, taking the seat out of his pants as he did so. Luckily, there was no other damage.
1 person likes this
M Cheung
@Beestring (15372)
• Hong Kong
12 Mar 23
It's sad that Eleanor was drowned.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382483)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Mar 23
It is indeed. Lord Montague himself sounds like he was very lucky to be rescued.
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Oleksandr Kornienko
@Gotrix (202)
•
12 Mar 23
Thanks for sharing this interesting information about the Rolls Royce mascot, also known as the "Spirit of Ecstasy." It's a tragic but fascinating story about its creation and ties to Lord Montagu and his personal secretary, Eleanor Thornton.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382483)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Mar 23
I'm glad you enjoyed it.