Spirit of Ecstasy

Do you recognise this object? It is an over-sized version of the little figurine gracing the radiators of Rolls Royce cars. It goes by a number of names, such as Emily, the Silver Lady, the Flying Lady and the Spirit of Ecstasy, though it was originally the Spirit of Speed. It depicts a silver woman facing the wind, her arms held up behind with her dress creating the impression of wings. This is a car, says the manufacturer, which glides luxuriously along, offering ecstasy and pleasure to those within. Charles Sykes, its creator, wrote that she is 

A graceful little goddess, the Spirit of Ecstasy, who has selected road travel as her supreme delight and alighted on the prow of a Rolls-Royce motor car to revel in the freshness of the air and the musical sound of her fluttering draperies. 

Road travel a supreme delight? She’s obviously not tried getting through Colne between the hours of 4 and 7pm.

This particular mascot was created to prevent other, ‘less appropriate’ private mascots from being attached to the front of cars, around 1910. Knowing the Edwardian upper class’ penchant for debauched living, one can only imagine what kind of objects they were sticking to them. This one itself is modelled on an earlier, private design, commissioned by Lord Montagu. It is based upon his extra-marital lover, Emily Thornton. In the original, she has a finger over her lips, hinting at the secrecy their adultery demanded.

To this day, the wealthy drive about with ecstasy over their engines’ grill. The word is now more commonly associated with the MDMA psychoactive drug which coolly offers pleasure and death to its takers. Ecstasy means a heightened, even mystical or spiritual sense of overwhelming pleasure, and its etymological ancestors may be traced to words used in the New Testament. Despite this, the Christian knows that no earthly pleasure can offer real fulfilment, certainly not an overpriced car with an appalling mile to gallon ratio. Only Christ can offer ultimate satisfaction, pleasure, joy and an ecstasy that will endure the grave.

What is the chief end of man? Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.

Westminster Shorter Catechism, 1648