This unique Rolls-Royce Phantom I was built in 1926 for American businessman, Clarence Gasque.
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It was a gift for his wife, Maude.
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Maude Gasque was a British retail chain heiress who had a penchant for 18th Century French history and design.
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As a result, Mr. Gasque commissioned the car with a French-themed interior.
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He did not set a budget limit for Rolls-Royce to stick to.
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The interior was entrusted to coachbuilders Charles Clark and Sons, of Wolverhampton, UK.
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A Marie Antoinette sedan chair that the owner saw in a museum provided much inspiration for their work.
Bonhams
The spectacular result is more akin to the throne room in the Palace of Versailles than a car’s interior. Indeed, the interior of the car was inspired by the opulence of the Palace of Versailles, featuring a tapestry by the French carpet makers Aubusson that took nine months to create, costing a significant sum. The car's interior also includes ornate details like a bow-fronted drinks cabinet resembling an antique commode and naked cherubs featured in painted scenes and as lighting supports, all contributing to its throne-room-like ambiance. The overall cost of the car at the time reflected the no-expense-spared approach, with a significant portion of the budget allocated to the custom interior.
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On delivery, the car cost $8,000, with the interior accounting for $5,500 of the total amount.
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Converted into today’s money, the purchase price was over $430,000, while the interior alone was $300,000.
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Details include a tapestry that took the craftsmen of Aubusson in France some nine months to make.
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Naked cherubs appear in painted scenes throughout the interior, and as lighting supports in the rear corners.
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A bow-fronted drinks cabinet, resembling an antique commode or chiffonier, also features.
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A small French ormolu clock, together with two French porcelain vases, can also be seen to the left.
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Sadly, Clarence passed away just two years after giving this lavish gift to his wife.
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Maude kept the car until 1952 when she sold it to a Rolls-Royce collector.
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It has since been part of collections in both Japan and the USA prior to returning to the UK thanks to its most recent owner.
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The Phantom of Love, as it is known, was up for auction at Bonhams of London on December 4th last year.
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