Latest Revs Institute exhibit pays homage to sculptor Charles Sykes

Speed, grace, power, beauty … For sculptor Charles Sykes—and many around the world—these four words defined the essence of Rolls-Royce automobiles and inspired his iconic design of the Rolls-Royce mascot known as the Spirit of Ecstasy.

Generously, for a new Revs Institute exhibit running through the next six months, six examples of Rolls-Royce Spirit of Ecstasy (aka "Emily", "Silver Lady" or "Flying Lady”) mascots were loaned by local collector Jon Zoler.

Bothered by outlandish mascots adorning the radiator caps on many of their finely crafted automobiles, management commissioned Sykes (1875-1950) in the early 1900s to design a simple, dignified mascot to represent the brand. More than a century later, the elegant mascot is an unmatched and evocative symbol of not only Rolls-Royce’s beginnings, but also the era of the automotive mascot.

The exhibition resides in the Automobility gallery, next to the 1914 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Tourer from Miles Collier Collections. In addition to the mascots from the Zoler Collection, Revs Institute important items from Miles Collier Collections relating to Sykes’ artistry are on display.