Charles Robinson Sykes | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1875-12-18)18 December 1875 |
| Died | 6 June 1950(1950-06-06) (aged 74) |
| Nationality | English |
| Other names | Rilette (as illustrator) |
| Occupation(s) | sculptor, illustrator |
| Known for | designer,Spirit of Ecstasy |
Charles Robinson Sykes (18 December 1875 – 6 June 1950)[1] was an English sculptor, best known for designing theSpirit of Ecstasy mascot which is used onRolls-Royce cars.
Sykes was born in 1875 inBrotton,[2] in present-dayRedcar and Cleveland, England.
TheSpirit of Ecstasy, also called "Emily", "Silver Lady" or "Flying Lady", carries with it a story about a secret passion betweenJohn Walter Edward Douglas-Scott-Montagu (second Lord Montagu of Beaulieu after 1905, a pioneer of the automobile movement, and editor ofThe 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.[3] It was named "The Whisper"[4][5] and is to this day unique to the Montagu family's Rolls-Royces. The statue is displayed at theNational Motor Museum inBeaulieu.
Sykes was also an illustrator under the pseudonym 'Rilette'. His work appeared on the cover of many issues of the magazineWoman[6] published byHutchinson and he designed many advertisements, especially forde Reszke cigarettes.
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