Model No: 1147 Victoire. Created April 1928
Purest Art Deco form, this last release of the year 1928, 'Victory' symbolises world peace, calm and the victory of France by appearing on the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice, November 11, 1918.
A figurehead par excellence, specially designed to sit enthroned at the front of a sumptuous car of the time, the Victory or Spirit of the Wind as it was often also known, is a masterpiece of René LALIQUE's style, and the mascot among mascots.
This striking head, slightly androgynous, although very Art Deco in its lines, also evokes an Indian chief from North America, wearing a ceremonial hairstyle. Indeed, if we consider the innumerable radiator caps of the 20s and 30s, and more particularly those of American manufacturers - the Pontiac, for example - which sported an Indian head from 1926 to 1932, we can consider that this theme also did not escape René LALIQUE.
Length: 25.6cm
Clear (white) glass press molded
Price (1932 Lalique et Cie Catalogue): 450FF
Breves of Knightsbridge, London UK titled this model ’Spirit of the Wind’ and listed a price of £6/16/6 ‘unilluminated' or £7/17/6 ‘for light’ using the patented Breves illuminated mount. A bulb was 3/s and Duty was £1/1/0.
Nil Melior, a prominent auto accessories company whose showrooms were located at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York, listed the mascot as "Seminole" for the US market, priced at $32.50 including a chromium plated base, illuminated for an additional $2.50. In an earlier catalogue it was also listed as "Seminole" at $22.50 with the illuminated base $10 additional.
Other names for this mascot - Victoire, Victory, Spirit of the Wind, Seminole. Mascotte, Hood Ornament, Car Mascot, Bouchon de Radiateur, Radiator Cap.
Appeared in 1932 Lalique Catalogue. Removed from 1937 Catalogue.
No known reissue post 1947, not marketed today. In mid 2000s Lalique SA reissued this model in clear crystal and opalescent versions. Easily distinguished from the original pre-1945 version with different base treatment and without the molded ‘R. Lalique’ and ‘France’ signature. The clear crystal version continues today. There are also many contemporary and modern copies and fakes, in particular in period the Persons-Majestic Company in the USA made a very close copy.
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