Model No: 1182 Renard. Created December 1930
In 1930, in England, the Sherlock Holmes author Conan DOYLE died. That same year, René LALIQUE created only one mascot, the Fox. The analogy is beautiful.
Beautiful, evoking speed and the wily nature of the fox, it was however complex and expensive to manufacture. Unfortunately, it will not have the success of the muse which inspired its creator and production ceased very quickly.
A commercial failure then, but today it is the most sought-after René LALIQUE mascot in the world.
Length: 21cm Height: 8cm
Clear (white) glass press molded. Marcilhac notes colour versions exist but this was never catalogued by Lalique.
Price (1932 Lalique et Cie Catalogue): 635FF
This was by far the most expensive of Lalique’s mascots and likely very few were sold hence the extreme rarity of the model today. Auction prices of GBP £245K and USD $338K have been acheived by Christies and Bonhams respectively.
Breves of Knightsbridge, London UK did not list this model in their Car Mascots leaflets or material. Likewise the Hibou and Chrysis launched in the same timeframe by Lalique as car mascots. This was probably as a result of the economic climate and fading fashion for car mascots at the time of launch.
Nil Melior, a prominent auto accessories company whose showrooms were located at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York, listed the Renard for a bargain price of $35 in 1934, having listed it in an earlier catalogue for $65 (with an illuminated base an additional $5). Nil Melior also listed an identical looking "Fox Motor Mascot" in 'bronze, hand wrought silver or chromium finish' for $25. In the same catalogue they offered mascots made to order in bronze from photographs or drawings, opening up the possibility of other reproductions of Lalique models.
Other names for this mascot - Renard, Fox. Mascotte, Hood Ornament, Car Mascot, Bouchon de Radiateur, Radiator Cap.
Appeared in 1932 Lalique Catalogue. Removed from 1937 Catalogue (though continued as a paperweight).
No known reissue in crystal post 1947, not marketed today.