This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 12/31/2005.
René Lalique was synonymous with French Art Nouveau decorative arts. First designing fine jewelry in 1881 Paris, by the 1930s he was world renowned as the most important designer of his time. In the 1920s Lalique turned to decorating the hoods of cars, and created 29 different crystal mascots. They were designed to be illuminated from within, so a bulb was attached to the car's wiring, with filters to change the colors. Several of his automobile mascot themes were based on birds, and his best known is this "Tete d'aigle." A powerful, right-angled image, the eagle's head is sharply outlined, with piercing gaze and threatening beak. It is believed that Hitler gave the amethyst-tinged variety of these mascots to the Generals of the Third Reich for their personal use. This piece dates from post-WWII (Lalique died in 1945), as can be determined from the diamond point signature on the bottom "Lalique France" with an "R" in a circle. It is believed that the Lalique offered here was originally mounted on a Bugatti, from information provided by our consignor.