Statue

Spirit of Ecstasy Sculpture by Priory Fine Arts

Few icons are as instantly recognizable – inside the automotive industry or out – as the Spirit of Ecstasy. Adorning the hoods of Rolls-Royce motor cars for nearly a century, the Spirit of Ecstasy remains unrivaled in its authenticity.

The ornament was originally designed by one Charles Sykes, commissioned by the automaker to give their cars an added sense of occasion. Back in the 1930s, the company mascot was also displayed in larger form in Rolls-Royce showrooms. The originals remain highly-coveted collectors' items, but an art studio in England is now offering reproductions of the original for enthusiasts.

The replica sculptures from Priory Fine Arts measure 26 inches tall and weigh a substantial 39 pounds. They're made of bronze and can be ordered as well plated in silver or gold, with a negotiable starting price of $3,150. Have a closer look in the image gallery below, or follow the links to the Priory and Hemmings Motor News websites to inquire.

Gallery: Spirit of Ecstasy by Priory Fine Arts

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Tags: hood ornament, mascot, priory, priory fine art, priory fine arts, rolls-royce, sculpture, spirit of ecstasy, statue, statuette

Denmark's Little Mermaid Moves To Shanghai

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Art

Here's a sight you don't see every day. Copenhagen's famous little mermaid statue is on the move. The Little Mermaid is being moved from her perch in Copenhagen harbor to begin a voyage that will land her in Shanghai, China. She will be shown off at the World Expo in Shanghai and then return to her post at the end of the year. This is the first time that statue has left Denmark in her 96 years. The statue honors Danish fairy tale writer Hans Christian Andersen, who wrote her story. She will grace the Danish pavilion at the World Expo which opens May 1. Some have said that the original shouldn't have been moved and that a copy should have been sent. Certainly locals and visitors will miss the lady on the rock while she's off on her adventures.

The sculpture was created by Danish sculptor Edvard Eriksen and is a popular tourist attraction. She has not been moved except when she needed repairs. The lady has had a rough life, she was beheaded in 1964 and 1988 and lost her right arm once. She was also blown off her stone base by explosives and has been vandalized numerous times. Compared to that, a global voyage might be a breeze.

Tags: copenhagen, denmark, little mermaid, shangai, statue, world expo

Kate Moss Loves Her $2.7 Million Gold Statue

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Art

British artist Marc Quinn's $2.7 million life-size solid gold statue of Kate Moss, which we told you about last month, just went on display to the public, and Quinn says the supermodel's thrilled. Said to be the world's largest gold statue made since the days of Ancient Egypt, the piece was unveiled at the British Museum in London and has drawn large crowds.

"When I showed Kate the statue, she told me she loved it," Quinn says of the piece, entitled Siren. "She modeled for me for a day or so - but she didn't pose for me like that." Noting that Siren is about "trying to live up to impossible dreams or immortality," something Moss apparently contends with on a daily basis, he says, "For Kate, she thinks it lifts her into a mythic level. I think she very much loved it because she appreciates the difference between her image and herself."

Tags: British Museum, BritishMuseum, Kate Moss, KateMoss, London, Marc Quinn, MarcQuinn, Statue

Darth Vader Bronze Statue For Serious Star Wars Fans

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Art

For true Star Wars fans with deep pockets there is this item. The bronze Darth Vader statue stands four feet tall and weighs over 150 lbs. There are just 30 numbered statues worldwide. Each one has an individualized patina that makes them unique. The statue by Lawrence Noble was modeled after Darth Vader as he appears in The Empire Strikes Back but also as a statue of Lord Vader might appear on the planet of Coruscant. Each piece was forged and assembled at a foundry close to Lucasfilm's Presidio campus and sells for $18,000.

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Tags: bronze, darth vader, DarthVader, star wars, StarWars, statue

Brit Artist Makes $2.7 Million Gold Statue of Kate Moss

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Art

British artist Marc Quinn has cast a life-size solid gold statue of Kate Moss, valued at $2.7 million and said to be the world's largest gold statue made since the days of Ancient Egypt.

The statue, entitled Siren, is a larger, golden version of his 2006 marble statue of Moss, Sphinx, in a provocative yoga pose. Sphinx weighs in at 110 pounds, which is probably quite close to Moss' actual weight.

Quinn's work "deals with the distanced relationship we have with our bodies," according to his gallery's bio, "highlighting how the conflict between the 'natural' and 'cultural' has a grip on the contemporary psyche." Moss is "the ideal beauty of the moment," the artist tells Vogue UK.

Siren will be on display alongside works by Damien Hirst and others at the British Museum in London for its Satuephilia show running from Oct. 4 - Jan. 25. See the gallery for more examples of Quinn's work.

Gallery: The Art of Marc Quinn

Tags: British Museum, BritishMuseum, Damien Hirst, DamienHirst, Kate Moss, KateMoss, London, Marc Quinn, MarcQuinn, Statue, Supermodels

The Terracotta Warriors of Tennis

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Sports

I hadn't heard of this project until the PR people showed me pictures but apparently it made news last month, the ATP has commissioned French sculptor Laury Dizengremel to create terracotta models of eight top tennis players in the style of the ancient Chinese Terracotta Army which is on display at the British Museum in London. The sculptures are being made for the Masters Cup in Shanghai which will take place in late November. Warrior statues of Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic have been commissioned and five spots are still still up for grabs in the field, The original Terracotta Army was created to be buried with the Emperor of Qin in 210-209 BC and 8,099 figures have been unearthed around the Emperor's tomb.

Gallery: Tennis Statues

Tags: china, roger federer, RogerFederer, shanghai, statue, tennis, terracotta

The Loet Vanderveen Imperial Rhino

by Sandy Maple (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Art

The Rhinoceros may not be a natural beauty, but in the hands of renowned wildlife sculptor Loet Vanderveen, the legendary fire-stamper is transformed.

Vanderveen's Imperial Rhino is hand-cast in bronze using the lost-wax method. With a sleek, hand-applied silver patina, the Imperial Rhino reflects the refined strength common in Vanderveen's work.

Measuring 13" high and 28" long, the glowing Imperial Rhino is made in the USA and sells for $6,695 at Gumps.

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Tags: art, decor, design, gumps, imperial rhino, ImperialRhino, loet vanderveen, LoetVanderveen, statue

Giant Dog Sculpture

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Pets

If you like dogs and lawn art, this Giant Dog Sculpture is a better way to accessorize your yard than a pink flamingo. If you don't care for either, it's probably not for you. The hollow steel sculpture, designed by Dale Rogers, measures 4'7" x 6'2" and is handmade in Massachusetts. Because it is made from steel, over time the metal with rust and darken, giving the piece a much more attractive - not to mention less retina-searing - than the aforementioned flamingos. Price: $2,400.

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Tags: art, dog, dogs, outdoors, pet, sculpture, statue, steel sculpture, yard

Golden Mickey

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

The ultimate collectible for a Disney fan is now on sale. Celebration Mickey stands 24-inches high and is made from 1,500 troy ounces of 24K gold. Despite his small size, Mickey weighs over 100-lbs. The sculpture is the largest gold piece ever commissioned by Disney, possibly in the whole United States, and was cast 2001 to commemorate Disney's 100th anniversary. The specific design used for it was done by Marc Delle, based on the original design by Walt Disney himself. Mickey's price tag, based on his original appraisal after casting, is $4 million.