René Lalique Cinq Chevaux Car Mascot No. 1122

Description Original Rene Lalique Car Mascot An original René Lalique Cinq Chevaux car mascot, model number 1122, introduced in 1925. Cinq Chevaux, translating to “Five Horses”, is one of the most dynamic designs from the original René Lalique car mascot series. The model depicts five overlapping horses rearing in unison, their manes and musculature flowing in rhythmic movement. The composition creates a powerful sense of motion despite being formed in solid glass. This example is signed R. Lalique moulded to the body and France wheel cut to the base with a slight amethyst tint and retains the correct Breves radiator mount numbered 309301. The model was commissioned in 1925 by André Citroën for his 5CV motor car, one of the earliest mass produced French automobiles. Unlike many Lalique mascots that were sold more broadly to luxury marques, Cinq Chevaux was specifically associated with Citroën, reinforcing its place within early automotive design history. The design is notable for its sculptural complexity. Because of its forward weight and overlapping form, the mascot cannot stand independently and was intended to be mounted. As with Comète, this structural feature makes complete examples with the correct mount significantly more desirable to collectors. Like all René Lalique car mascots of the 1920s, Cinq Chevaux was designed to be illuminated from beneath when fitted to the radiator cap. When lit, the glass would glow at night, intensifying the sense of movement within the sculpted horses. Cinq Chevaux remains one of the most recognisable and technically ambitious models within the René Lalique car mascot series, representing an important intersection between Art Deco glass design and early motoring history. It was one of four horse themed mascots from Lalique’s original car mascot range, alongside Longchamp A No. 1152a, Longchamp B No. 1152b, and Epsom No. 1153. See more of our Rene Lalique Car Mascots collection here. Literature The Exceptional Collection Mark Goodger Antiques 36-37 Félix Marcilhac book René Lalique maître-verrier Page 99 and 497 John L. Zolomij, Lalique: Automobile Mascots, Philadelphia, 2002, pp. 21-22 Phil Patton, “Lalique’s Glass Menagerie, Too Cool to Ride on Radiators,” The New York Times, March 2, 2012 René Lalique (1860-1945) Master of French Glass, Art Deco Sculpture and Luxury Car Mascots René Jules Lalique was one of the most influential designers of the late 19th and early 20th century, celebrated for his pioneering work in Art Nouveau jewellery and later for his groundbreaking Art Deco glass creations. Trained in Paris and London, Lalique designed for leading houses such as Cartier and Boucheron before establishing his own studio, where he transformed the world of decorative arts with his use of glass, enamel, horn and sculptural forms inspired by nature and Japanese design. By the 1920s, Lalique had become internationally renowned for his glasswork, moving beyond perfume bottles and vases to design what would become some of the most coveted symbols of early automotive luxury, his car mascots (radiator hood ornaments). Produced between 1925 and 1931, these mascots, including iconic models such as Victoire, Tête de Coq, Chrysis, Comète and Longchamp, were designed as sculptural glass figures mounted on the radiators of prestige automobiles such as Delage, Hispano-Suiza, Bentley and Rolls-Royce. These mascots were made in pressed crystal and illuminated from beneath giving them an ethereal glow, a true fusion of fine art and motoring history. Lalique’s legacy was continued by his son Marc Lalique, who transitioned the company from glass to crystal production, securing Lalique’s place as a leading name in French luxury manufacturing. His works are now held in major museum collections worldwide including the Victoria and Albert Museum, Musée des Arts Décoratifs, the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, the Corning Museum of Glass and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. For collectors, a Lalique piece whether a glass mascot, vase or sculptural object represents more than decorative art. It embodies the golden age of French luxury design, where craftsmanship, innovation and modern engineering met in perfect harmony. For further information on René Lalique and his famous Car Mascots please see our articles René Lalique Art Deco Car Mascots Makers and Retailers René Lalique Why Buy from Mark Goodger Antiques? With over thirty five years of specialist experience, Mark Goodger Antiques is recognised internationally as a leading authority in antique boxes and related works of art. 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