MetaphoreIn 2024, as Rolls-Royce Motor Cars celebrates its 120th anniversary, the brand unveils a breathtaking masterpiece: the Phantom Scintilla Private Collection. This exclusive collection, based on the Phantom Extended model, pays tribute to Rolls-Royce’s timeless muse, the Spirit of Ecstasy, while celebrating the ethereal beauty and enduring legacy of this iconic emblem.
Limited to only ten vehicles worldwide, the Phantom Scintilla features meticulously crafted design elements that honor the origins of the Spirit of Ecstasy, drawing inspiration from the famous Parian marble. This marble, known for its brilliance, was used over 2,000 years ago by an unknown genius of Classical Greece to sculpt the Winged Victory of Samothrace—an ancient statue that inspired Claude Johnson’s original concept for the Rolls-Royce mascot.
A New Chapter in an Enduring Legacy
The Phantom Scintilla tells the story of Rolls-Royce’s heritage through modern design. In 1910, Claude Johnson, the managing director of Rolls-Royce, commissioned sculptor and illustrator Charles Sykes to create a mascot for the brand’s vehicles. Johnson was captivated by the Winged Victory of Samothrace, a Greek statue housed in the Louvre Museum in Paris, depicting a deity descending from the heavens. This powerful image left a lasting impression on Johnson and served as the inspiration for what would eventually become the Spirit of Ecstasy. While the Spirit of Ecstasy was widely believed to be modeled after Eleanor Thornton, secretary and lover of Lord Montagu, the Phantom Scintilla revisits Johnson’s original muse, incorporating new materials and subtle references to the awe-inspiring Winged Victory.
Exterior: A Greek-Inspired Masterpiece
The Phantom Scintilla’s exterior is a symphony of craftsmanship and artistry. It boasts a bespoke two-tone finish, with Andalusian White gracing the upper body and Thracian Blue adorning the lower half. These colors were carefully selected to evoke the hues of the seas surrounding the Greek island of Samothrace, the birthplace of the Winged Victory statue. A metallic flake subtly replicates the sparkling light on water, adding to the car’s ethereal presence. Hand-painted double coachlines in Spirit Blue and bespoke wheels further enhance the elegance of the vehicle’s design, creating a refined and timeless aesthetic.
Interior: A Dance of Dynamic Movement
Step inside the Phantom Scintilla, and you are greeted by an interior that encapsulates the graceful movement of the Spirit of Ecstasy. Designers and artisans from the Bespoke Collective collaborated to create a seamless and dynamic design, with continuous graphic elements inspired by the fluidity of the iconic figure. The main artisan, Brienny Dudley, experimented with various stitching techniques and hues before settling on the intricate tatami stitch. This painstaking process involves six layers of thread interwoven to varying degrees of density and complexity. In total, the interior design consists of 869,500 stitches, with over 40 hours dedicated to completing each car’s embroidery.
The doors, adorned with the most intricate design ever seen on a Rolls-Royce, feature 633,000 individual stitches in shades of Arctic White, Spirit Blue, Powder Blue, and Pastel Yellow. These are complemented by illuminated perforations that give the embroidery a mesmerizing, glowing effect at night. The seats are upholstered in a reflective twill fabric, adding further depth to the interaction of textures and materials within the cabin. An additional 236,500 stitches in shades of Glacier Blue and Spirit Blue continue the complex graphic motif across all four doors, extending the interior’s dynamic theme.
The Gallery: A Celestial Masterpiece
At the heart of the Phantom Scintilla’s dashboard lies an extraordinary piece of art, aptly titled Celestial Pulse. Spanning the entire width of the front panel, this bespoke installation consists of seven ribbons, each meticulously milled from solid aluminum. The ribbons are then coated with a fine-grain ceramic finish that mirrors the texture of the Spirit of Ecstasy figurine. The edges of the ribbons are polished to a mirror-like shine, capturing light and creating a sense of movement and fluidity across the dashboard, much like the figure that inspired it.
Starlight Headliner: Fleeting Moments of Light
The Phantom Scintilla’s signature Starlight Headliner further enhances the cabin’s ethereal atmosphere. Drawing inspiration from the flowing gown of the Spirit of Ecstasy, 1,500 individually placed fiber-optic lights are arranged in a unique sequence, creating the illusion of motion. This celestial display is further complemented by 4,450 larger perforations that reveal glimpses of metallic silver fabric beneath, offering a subtle interplay of light and texture that adds to the car’s overall sense of wonder.
Exquisite Finishing Details
The car’s interior wood trim is finished in Arctic White and treated with an iridescent lacquer infused with metallic particles. To achieve this stunning effect, artisans apply up to 19 layers of lacquer, a process that takes more than 190 hours for each car. The result is a flawless surface that reflects light in a way that is both captivating and sophisticated.
The Phantom Scintilla Collection’s name is elegantly engraved on polished stainless-steel door sills, serving as a lasting reminder of the car’s exclusivity. As a final touch, each vehicle is delivered with a bespoke car cover, providing owners with a piece of art that reflects the luxury and heritage of Rolls-Royce.
A Legacy of Exclusivity
The Rolls-Royce Phantom Scintilla Private Collection is a limited masterpiece, with only ten vehicles available globally. Each one represents not only the pinnacle of luxury engineering but also a tribute to the brand’s storied past and its dedication to innovation and elegance. Available exclusively through Rolls-Royce’s international network of Private Offices, the Phantom Scintilla is a rare gem for the most discerning collectors.
Through the Phantom Scintilla, Rolls-Royce has not only created a vehicle but has woven together history, art, and innovation into an experience that transcends time.
To see more articles related to this topic, follow this link.
Metaphore
