Model No: 1143 Hirondelle. Created February 1928
One of the leading figures in the history of French aviation, Maryse Bastié broke the record for straight-line flight in a light aircraft in 1928, between Le Bourget and Pomerania. René LALIQUE pays homage to him here.
Lalique used the swallow motif on many designs often seen swooping in flight as here, in this case a single bird. Striking from any angle, more naturalistic from the side, bold art deco from the front.
Height: 15cm
Clear (white) glass press molded
Price (1932 Lalique et Cie Catalogue): 285FF
Molded R. LALIQUE FRANCE to the rear
Breves of Knightsbridge, London UK titled this model ’The Blue Bird’ or ‘Bluebird’ and listed a price of £4/4/0 ‘unilluminated' or £5/5/0 ‘for light’ using the patented Breves illuminated mount. A bulb was 3/s and Duty was 15/s.
Other names for this mascot - Hirondelle, Swallow, The Blue Bird, Bluebird. Mascotte, Hood Ornament, Car Mascot, Bouchon de Radiateur, Radiator Cap.
Appeared in 1928 and 1932 Lalique Catalogue. Removed from 1937 Catalogue (though available as book-ends at this time and continued as a paperweight).
Reissued in crystal post 1947 as book-ends and again in 1951 the pattern was marketed in crystal in paperweight and bookend versions but with a different base treatment not suitable for mounting as a mascot. No longer marketed today.