At present, these glass
designs are very rare and
beloved designer items that
are collected by both design
lovers and classic car
enthusiasts,
said Dr. Lennart Booij,
a renowned Dutch expert in art history.
The famous glass designer René Lalique (1860-1945) was asked
in 1925 by the car designer André Citroen to design a glass
mascot for his new large Cinq Chevaux car. Out of this amazing
collaboration came a five glass horses in trot. This design proved
to be an instant success at the “Exposition des Arts Décoratifs
et Industriels Modernes” in Paris that year.
No wonder it was considered a huge novelty at the time. If the
car speeded, the light in the glass mascot lighted up. In addi-
tion, you could add various colour filters to give the mascot a
matching colour in conjunction with the car.
From 1926 onward, Lalique designed a series of almost 20 glass
mascots that young affluent car owners immediately embraced.
The London-based Breves Gallery even published a special folder
with all the models. They also supplied the chrome holder that
could easily be screwed onto the radiator.
These attractively designed objects were made of pressed trans-
parent glass. They were mostly finished by hand. The details were
polished and satinated in order to give them a lively expression.
They were all signed with the name R. Lalique moulded in the
design itself.
Among them included an impressive looking eagle, a proud
rooster with large feathers and a classic archer shooting his
arrow forward. The glass symbols strengthened the sense of
speed as if they were cutting through air. This was strikingly
visible in the racing whippet dog design that seemed wanting
to beat the car.
‘LEVRIER’ GLASS CAR MASCOT DESIGNED BY R. LALIQUE (1860-1945) IN 1928 - LENGTH 20 CM.
As with all fads the glass car mascots were highly sought-after
and then abruptly scrapped. The economic crisis of 1929 made
sure this extravagance was declared redundant. In addition, the
Lalique mascots were prohibited with the new road and traffic
laws introduced in the late 1930s. Finally in the 1940s, the con-
cealed radiator under the hood ensured that the bronze variants
were also rendered unnecessary. Only the logo or mark of the
manufacturer stayed.
“At present, these glass designs are very rare and beloved de-
signer items that are collected by both design lovers and clas-
sic car enthusiasts,” said Dr. Lennart Booij, a renowned Dutch
expert in art history.
To complement a complete Lalique mascots collection is some-
times one’s goal while others see them as part of a larger Lalique
glass collection and then there are of course those adventurers
who in fine weather simply put the glass mascot back on their
old-timers and thus again relive that unique thrill of modern
industrial luxury emanating from the 1920s.
Photos by Erik and Petra Hesmerg
‘COQ NAIN’ GLASS CAR MASCOT DESIGNED BY
R. LALIQUE (1860-1945) IN 1928 HEIGHT 20 CM.
24
PAN Amsterdam
For more information,
please visit the website of Dr. Lennart Booij:
www.booij-arts.com
‘FAUCON’ GLASS CAR MASCOT DESIGNED BY ‘TETE D’ AIGLE,’ GLASS CAR MASCOT DESIGNED BY
R. LALIQUE (1860-1945) IN 1925 HEIGHT 15 CM. R. LALIQUE (1860-1945) IN 1928 HEIGHT 11 CM.
PAN Amsterdam - Booij Arts - Stand 86
PAN Amsterdam
25