Rory Dobner

► Phantom - an art gallery on wheels

Rolls-Royce Phantom is the longest-running nameplate in automotive history and over the last 92 years, the marque’s flagship has conveyed the world’s cognoscenti to some of the most defining moments in history. Now in its eighth generation, Phantom proudly remains at the pinnacle of the marque’s collection and is the canvas for some of the boldest and most personal interpretations of true luxury today.

Tasked with bringing these ambitious personal visions to reality is a collective of highly-skilled designers, engineers and craftspeople, The Rolls-Royce Bespoke department, who reside at the Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood, West Sussex. An intrinsic part of their responsibility is to understand and immerse themselves in a world of luxury far beyond automotive horizons. Drawing inspiration from the worlds of fashion, art and design, they continually examine the work of experts in these fields, furthering skills and knowledge in order to push the boundaries beyond the limitations car designers are usually confined to. On designing the eighth generation Phantom, hailed by critics as ‘An Art Gallery on Wheels’, inspiration was sought from the marque’s patrons, who increasingly collect and commission unique works of art. This led Rolls-Royce Design Director, Giles Taylor, to examine Phantom’s interior. At the heart of New Phantom’s wholly modern design aesthetic, Taylor has created ‘The Gallery’, a contemporary and luxury reinterpretation of a motor car’s dashboard. A pure application of glass runs across the fascia, a space which provides an unprecedented opportunity for patrons to curate and to commission, to exhibit, admire and reflect. The glass runs uninterrupted, emphasising Phantom’s elegant proportions, positioned front and centre of the serene interior, becoming a focal point for the motor car’s esteemed inhabitants. “In the 18th century, miniatures were highly-fashionable, valuable items of art that allowed their owners to carry images of their loved one with them wherever they travelled. I really loved that idea of taking your art with you, when travelling, and so I acted on it,” commented Taylor. “Now, our clients will be able to do the same.” As a Bespoke Commission, customers are able to choose a favoured artist or designer to work with Rolls-Royce to create a truly individual work of art that spans the width of ‘The Gallery’ in their New Phantom. As a source of inspiration, Rolls-Royce has worked with a number of artists, designers and design collectives to demonstrate a multitude of possibilities to put behind the glass of ‘The Gallery’ for the owner’s pleasure. Works as complex as a sculptural painting inspired by the South Downs of England by renowned Chinese artist Liang Yuanwei, a gold-plated 3D-printed map of an owner’s DNA created by the enfant terrible of German product design Thorsten Franck, a collection of roses, bred for Rolls-Royce by Harkness Roses and hand-made of the finest porcelain by world renowned porcelain manufacturer Nymphenberg, a silk sculpture depicting the female form of the Spirit of Ecstasy by British artist, Helen Amy Murray, a milled solid billet of aluminium encapsulating the trailing wake of Phantom by Based Upon, a gemstone encrusted starburst by designer and goldsmith Richard Fox and a configuration of iridescent feathers by materials specialists Nature Squared are some of the creations inspired by this most unusual of Gallery spaces. In addition to these Bespoke Commissions, Rolls-Royce’s in-house artisans and designers at the Home of Rolls-Royce have created a stunning collection of forward-looking Gallery treatments of silk, wood, metal and leather. New Phantom’s Gallery presents patrons with an unparalleled opportunity for Bespoke personalisation, elevating Rolls-Royce Bespoke to new heights, whilst reaffirming that the marque is a House of Luxury, like no other.

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Opposite ► Step inside New Phantom’s serene interior.

Below, left ► Nymphenburg’s ‘Immortal Beauty’ Gallery installation. The eighth generation Rolls-Royce Phantom.

Below ► The Phantom Rose, immortalised in porcelain for The Gallery.

Rolls-RoyceMotor Cars