Model No: 1160 Vitesse. Created September 1929
René LALIQUE was unquestionably the greatest French jeweller, whose creative genius crossed borders. But he was also a draughtsman, decorator, and even a sculptor. His bronzes were to be mistaken for the style of the RODIN school. The stunning Vitesse seems to come out of a block of marble.
There is a belief that René LALIQUE created this sublime creature in homage to Camille CLAUDEL, who was four years his junior, and whose talent was matched only by excess, as was the case for René LALIQUE.
A perfect car mascot for the age of speed, particularly resplendent in opalescent glass.
Height: 18.5cm
Clear (white) glass and Opalescent (colour) examples are catalogued and exist. Press molded
Marcilhac notes opalescent AND colour as option but no coloured examples are known to exist (other than amethyst tint).
Price (1932 Lalique et Cie Catalogue): 420FF (clear), 460FF (colour opalescent)
Breves of Knightsbridge, London UK titled this model ’Vitesse’ and ‘Femme Nue' and listed a price of £7/7/0 ‘unilluminated' or £8/8/0 ‘for light’ using the patented Breves illuminated mount. A bulb was 3/s and Duty was 1/1/0.
Other names for this mascot - Vitesse, Speed, Femme Nue, Goddess of Speed. Mascotte, Hood Ornament, Car Mascot, Bouchon de Radiateur, Radiator Cap.
Appeared in 1932 Lalique Catalogue. Removed from 1937 Catalogue (though available as a statuette at this time).
No known reissue in crystal post 1947, not marketed today. In 2006 the modern Lalique company reissued the model in clear and opalescent, recreated in crystal glass with different base treatment and without the molded R. Lalique signature.
See examples for sale here