Model No: 1141 Levrier. Created March 1928
A rumour that René LALIQUE created the Greyhound for the Prince of Wales, later King George VI of England, is credible. Greyhounds are a breed of aristocratic elegance and often depicted in such settings. We can imagine that René LALIQUE, a very worldly man, wanted to create for the Prince a mascot representing a leaping greyhound and indeed Lalique did also create a non-commercial model of a greyhound in July 1929 for Prince George the younger brother, later the Duke of Kent.
Greyhound racing or coursing had become incredibly popular in England through 1926 and 1927 and this was a logical addition to the Lalique collection and clearly this greyhound is racing, ears pinned back, sleek silhouette through to the tail.
Epitomising the art deco style, the greyhound was mainly represented as a mascot on Fords and Lincolns of the period.
Length: 20cm
Clear (white) glass press molded
Price (1932 Lalique et Cie Catalogue): 285FF
Breves of Knightsbridge, London UK titled this model ’The Greyhound’ and listed a price of £3/3/0 ‘unilluminated' or £4/4/0 ‘for light’ using the patented Breves illuminated mount. A bulb was 3/s and Duty was 10/6.
Other names for this mascot - Levrier, The Greyhound, Greyhound. Mascotte, Hood Ornament, Car Mascot, Bouchon de Radiateur, Radiator Cap.
Appeared in 1928 and 1932 Lalique Catalogue. Removed from 1937 Catalogue.
Also available as a presse-papier (paperweight) at this time.
No known reissue in crystal post 1947, not marketed today.