1929 - 30 Steyr Egyptian Girl Car Mascot, Hood Ornament Extremely Rare and exquisite serene beauty from Austria Start Price USD 2,000.00 Current Price USD 6,900.00 Time Left - Bid Count 16 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Sunday, August 17, 2008 End Time Sunday, August 24, 2008 Location England See more about '1929 - 30 Steyr Egyptian Girl Car Mascot, Hood Ornament' Description 1929-1930 Steyr Egyptian Girl, Car Mascot, Hood Ornament (Move down to see further photographs) 'Deesse Egyptienne' Steyr Automobiles mascot - Egyptian semi nude beautiful girl sitting cross legged with her arms held over her chest meditating in a serene pose. Made by Weber & Ruhl, Austria. Deeply impressed mark to the rear of the base 'Weber Ruhl'. This exceptionally rare 1929/ 1930 mascot is finished in its original chrome plated brass, originally being designed for and used exclusively on the Steyr cars of 1929/1930. It is complete with its integral radiator cap exactly as it should be. This radiator cap actually forms part of the mascot and was skilfully incorporated into its original design by Hansie Siercke, the original sculptor of the piece. This was created exclusively on behalf of Steyr Automobiles by the highly regarded and leading retailers in Austria of Weber & Ruhl. Totally fresh to the marketplace, being not only a mascot made for a particular car but also being a true 'mascot work of art'. It is a highly important find today. It would be extremely difficult to locate a finer totally original example anywhere, as only a handful of examples exist today in exclusive private collections, and none of these are for sale. This is a unique opportunity for one wise mascot collector wishing to obtain the ultimate mascot prize. Important note of interest to all mascot collectors : As was clearly demonstrated at the recent public USA Quail Lodge Bonhams auction on 15th August, despite global financial pressures, the rarest top pre-war important nude mascots are still in great demand. The serious and discerning collectors there were eagerly competing and buying the ultimate female nude silvered metal mascots at world record prices up to $19,890, and at up to $29,250 for R.Lalique female nude and all types of glass mascots, invested for their great rarity, supreme beauty and future investment potential. As the World's leading specialist dealer in only the finest and rarest pre-war metal and R.Lalique glass mascots for the past forty years, you can be totally confident to bid on this mascot knowing that I always give a full written guarantee of total authenticity with everything I sell. I will only ever offer the ULTIMATE, desirable and exclusive pieces for your enjoyment. I always offer immediate beautifully packed shipping. I also am very happy to undertake the formation of fresh mascot collections, as I have been privileged in recent decades to assemble the ultimate private collections in the world today on behalf of their fastidious owners. I am also eager to buy single or complete collections of top pre-war signed R.Lalique and silvered bronze fine mascots. References : Photographed and described ,Page 51, Plate 51 in the Michel Legrand book 'Mascottes Passion'. Photographed on Page 78, plate 279and described in William C. Williams book 'Motoring Mascots of the World'.In Bill Williams book, the mascot is listed as fitting a basic Model 45 Taxi in 1930, but in comparing the size of the large diameter integral cap with the smaller 40 HP Taxi and examining photos of this basic car with its plain non fluted cap, I am convinced that its larger construction and design would have obviously been far more suited to the grander and larger 5.3 litre model produced in small numbers and exhibited at both the Paris and Olympia car shows for 1929. Surely the influence of Dr Ferdinand Porsche who joined Steyr from Mercedes in 1929 influenced the design of having a most spectacular mascot to show off the new high powered car range ? Perhaps somewhere in Cyberspace can be found a photo of the 1929 Steyr stand at either show with perhaps a mascot in place on an exhibited car. Any assistance from anyone out there who could possibly produce a photo showing a Steyr car fitted with this mascot would be greatly appreciated. My own research continues, as I am greatly intrigued and fascinated by the design characteristics of this outstanding piece. Some history of Steyr Automobiles : Steyr (or Steyr-Puch) was an Austrian automotive company from 1915 until 1990.Formed as a branch of Steyr Osterreichische Waffenfabriks-Gesellschaft (Steyr AG) in 1915, to diversify manufacturing, the founders hired 38-year-old designer Hans Ledwinka after he resigned from Nesseldorf. Ledwinka developed Steyr's new six-cylinder car and supervised hiring engineers and mechanics. This, the 12/40PS, featured the fashionable spizkuhler (pointed radiator) of the prewar Mercedes and had very modern features: a 3255 cc (199ci) engine with SOHC, ball bearing-mounted crankshaft, four-speed gearbox, and multi-plate clutch, but not including four wheel brakes, though Ledwinka's designs had used them as early as 1909. The ability of the engine to rev led to 4014 cc (245ci) Type VI and 4890 cc (298ci) Type VI Klausen sport versions, and it was employed in a 2½ton truck. Ledwinka again came into conflict with management when the company wanted luxury cars and he preferred a cheap, simple car, the sidevalve four-cylinder Type IV. Steyr concentrated on luxury cars. Ledwinka did not give up, creating a car with and aircooled flat-twin and backbone chassis. Management ignored him, and he quit to join Tatra, taking the design with him; it also inspired the early Volkswagen Type 1. Steyr realized their mistake too late, but Ledwinka acted as consulting engineer, influencing the 1925 Type XII, with a 14/35 hp 1.5 liter OHC six, crankshaft ball bearings, four-wheel brakes, half-elliptic front springs, and swing axle IRS. It came in two models, a four- or five-seater tourer at £440 and a four-door saloon at £560. This was joined by a 3.3 liter Type VII interior drive limousine, a luxurious four-door that seated up to seven and cost £1000; it shared its 17.75 kW (23.8 hp) chassis with the five- to seven-place, £975 Coupe de Ville. The 1926 Olympia Motor Show premiered a new 10 kW (14 hp) tourer for £510. There was also another new small car in 1928, the 2060 cc (126ci) 16/40 hp Type XX and a 4 liter 29/70 hp six Type XVI, with vacuum servo-assisted brakes by Bosch-Dewandre. In January 1929, Dr. Ferdinand Porsche joined Steyr from Mercedes. He quickly produced the 37/100 hp Austria, with a 5.3 liter straight eight, dual magneto ignition, and twin spark plugs, four-wheel Lockheed hydraulic brakes, and Steyr's first detachable cylinder head. It also had Steyr's half-elliptic front and swing axle rear suspension. It showed at the Paris Salon and Olympia, the cabriolet offered at £1550. The Great Depression intervened, however, and Steyr was bailed out by Austro Daimler, which killed the project as competing with its own very similar car, while Porsche resigned to form Porsche Büro in Stuttgart. The crash hit hard. Steyr in 1929 produced short of 5000 cars and 1000 trucks in all, but despite major exhibitions to showcase the car range in the 1929 Paris and London car shows, just twelve cars were produced in 1930. Dimensions : 154mm high, 62mm integral cap thread internal diameter, 84mm outside cap diameter. Condition : The exquisite mascot is sold in totally unrestored and in its superb original condition. It naturally carries the normal surface blemishes, scratches , normal surface wear and superb original patination that only the passing of 78 years and use on the original Steyr car it adorned could ever produce. The detail is truly outstanding, and her facial detail,anatomy, clothing and head dress are exquisitely detailed. The 1930 plating is the original, which is amazingly still bright after decades of use. All layout, descriptions and images in this presentation are the sole ownership and © copyright of  Finesse Fine Art  and are not to be copied or used in any way without prior consent from us. To view other items currently for auction here on eBay from me please Click Here For information about us please visit our About Me Page Payment : Direct Telegraphic Bank transfer in either UK pounds sterling or US dollars / International Money Order in UK pounds sterling only / or bank cheque for UK purchasers only please. Note VAT at 17.5% is payable on top of the selling price for all UK and EC purchasers. Shipping : Superb packing and shipping can happily be arranged by your preferred shipping method, such as FedEx, UPS, GPO Datapost for overseas purchasers, or by Interlink for UK purchasers. The charges for packing, shipping, insurance and any duties are payable by the successful purchaser. Thankyou for your interest, and the very best of luck with your bidding. Powered by eBay Turbo ListerThe free listing tool. List your items fast and easy and manage your active items. Place a Bid!