Charles Robinson Sykes

Who was Charles Robinson Sykes?

Charles Robinson Sykes was an English sculptor, better known for designing the Spirit of Ecstasy mascot which is used on Rolls-Royce cars. He was born in Brotton, in present day Redcar and Cleveland, England.

The Spirit of Ecstasy, also called "Emily", "Silver Lady" or "Flying Lady", carries with it a story about a secret passion between John Walter Edward Douglas-Scott-Montagu, and his secret love and the model for the emblem, Eleanor Velasco Thornton.

Sykes was commissioned by Lord Montagu to make a special mascot for his 1909 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost. Sykes produced a small statue of a young woman in fluttering robes with a forefinger to her lips. It was christened "The Whisper" and is to this day unique to the Montagu family’s Rolls Royces. The statue is displayed at the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu.

Added by his grandson, Howard Phillips: For scans and photos of his work go to www.rilette.com