Model No: 1183 Chrysis. Created March 1931
A seemingly inexhaustible source of inspiration for René LALIQUE, women were modelled many times by this great Art Deco artist.
Daughter of Chryses, priest of Apollo, in Greek mythology, Chrysis was kidnapped and held captive by Agamenon during the Trojan war. She is also known for having inadvertently caused a fire that led to the destruction of the temple of Argos. We find her beauty and legendary sensuality, combined with a touch of exoticism, in this creation by René LALIQUE.
Chrysis is one of the most popular and most produced car mascots though in reality probably very few were used for that purpose given the first production date. It was the final mascot to be created and continued in production in clear crystal probably longer than any other model and for use as a statuette or paperweight.
Height: 13.5cm Length 14.5cm
Clear (white) and Coloured (opalescent) glass. Press molded
Price (1932 Lalique et Cie Catalogue): 460FF (clear), 485FF (opalescent)
The opalescent version of Chrysis is one of the very rarest mascots with likely a very short production span and only seen with a production mounting groove. Many clear examples may have had a mounting groove later cut to give the appearance of use as a mascot.
Breves of Knightsbridge, London UK did not list this model in their Car Mascots leaflets or material. Likewise, the Hibou and Renard which were launched a little earlier as car mascots. This was probably as a result of the economic climate and fading fashion for car mascots at the time of launch.
Other names for this mascot - Chrysis, Chryseis, Kneeling Nude. Mascotte, Hood Ornament, Car Mascot, Bouchon de Radiateur, Radiator Cap.
Appeared in 1932 Lalique Catalogue. Removed from 1937 Catalogue (though continued as a statuette and paperweight without the mounting groove).
Reissued in crystal post 1947 as a paperweight and later as bookends in clear base. In 2006 the modern Lalique company reissued the model in clear and opalescent, recreated in crystal glass. The opalescent model was a numbered (but not limited) edition. Not marketed today.