The Spirit of Ecstasy is one of the most recognizable mascots in the automotive world, but its origins trace back to a single artist whose influence still defines Rolls-Royce today. As the British marque marks the 150th anniversary of Charles Robinson Sykes, let’s turn our attention to the artist who quietly gave Rolls-Royce its creative soul.
Born in 1875 in Brotton, a mining village in North Yorkshire, Sykes grew up far from the aristocratic settings his work would later depict. Encouraged by family members with artistic interests, he trained at Rutherford Art College in Newcastle before earning a scholarship to the Royal College of Art in London. There, he studied drawing, painting, and sculpture, building a foundation that allowed him to work across multiple disciplines with equal confidence.
By the early twentieth century, Sykes had established himself as a respected commercial artist and sculptor. Under the pseudonym Rilette, he created magazine covers, advertisements, and illustrations that are now held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. His sculptural work earned similar recognition. A Bacchante, one of his bronzes, was exhibited at both the Royal Academy in London and the Paris Salon, underscoring his standing in the fine art world.
Sykes did not work in isolation, as he would eventually cross paths with John Montagu, the publisher of The Car Illustrated, and with Claude Johnson, Rolls-Royce’s first managing director. Another important figure was Eleanor Velasco Thornton, Montagu’s office manager and a frequent model for Sykes, whose presence forms part of the broader human context surrounding the creation of the Spirit of Ecstasy.
Before the official Rolls-Royce mascot existed, Sykes sculpted a small figure for Montagu’s Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost. Known as The Whisper, it portrayed a robed woman with a finger raised to her lips. Eleanor modeled for the piece, and Montagu displayed it on his cars for many years.
At the time, hood ornaments were a common feature on luxury motor cars. Many were expressive, some elaborate, and not always aligned with the image Rolls-Royce sought to project. In 1910, Johnson proposed the idea of an official mascot that would reflect the marque’s values. He convinced a reluctant Henry Royce that Rolls-Royce needed an official emblem, one that elevated the car rather than distracted from it. He commissioned Sykes and suggested classical inspiration, including the Nike of Samothrace.
” Best known as the sculptor who created the Spirit of Ecstasy, Sykes was a multifaceted and prolific artist whose work is still held in high regard 150 years after his birth. He was the first of the marque’s foundational figures to bring artistry and creativity to Rolls-Royce, a legacy that endures today in our ever more ambitious and elaborate Bespoke and Coachbuild work.” – Andrew Ball, Head of Corporate Relations, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.
Sykes ultimately created a more restrained figure, one that suggested movement and grace rather than drama. That figure eventually became the Spirit of Ecstasy. Although opinions on mascots varied within the company, Johnson supported the project, and the design was formally adopted in 1911. In 1920, the Spirit of Ecstasy received international recognition when it won a Paris competition for automotive mascots.
Sykes personally cast and finished the figurine for many years, ensuring subtle variation in each example. 150 years after his birth, his contribution endures not simply as an emblem but as a lasting reminder that craftsmanship and artistic expression have always been central to the Rolls-Royce identity.
Images: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, Khris Bharath
