Dentelle Is Inspired By Lace
Rolls-Royce has just unveiled a new one-off creation based on its biggest sedan. Called the Phantom Dentelle, the unique build was commissioned by a Dubai-based customer who wanted to give their father a gift they couldn't get anywhere else. The car is described as "an homage to the exquisite handmade lace used in some of the world's leading haute couture ateliers, specifically lace made using a rare Leavers loom."
This machine was first made in 1813, and from 1841, it was capable of making lace with pattern, net, and outline. Finding one is extremely unusual because the cost of producing one is not typically justified by the money that can be made from its products, so it's an ideal source of inspiration for a one-off RR.
Rolls-Royce's Embroiderers Have Been Busy
The Phantom's 'Gallery,' or dashboard, features a floral composition inspired by lace, with the embroidery layers using multiple stitching techniques, thread densities, and tones, including Rose Gold, Sunrise, and Oatmeal. It's a highly complex process that requires extremely fine craftsmanship, but the end result looks multi-dimensional and realistically evokes images of petals, ferns, and, of course, lacework. In total, this piece alone is made up of over 160,000 stitches. A similar floral theme appears on the 'Waterfall,' or rear-seat center console, and this took another 70,000 stitches or so. With Sunrise and Grace White leathers offset by Rose Gold speaker grilles and Piano White veneers, it's a special place to sit, but not one you'd want to eat a chocolate ice cream in.
Hand-Painted Exterior With One-Off Paint
As a one-off, the Phantom Dentelle wears paint from Rolls-Royce's Bespoke department. The two-tone finish comprises Crystal over Arctic White paint for the lower half of the body and Crystal over Palais Nemasker Dawn for the top, with the latter color exclusively available to the commissioning customer - no matter how deep your pockets are, this color will never be repeated for anyone else. A final flourish to the body is the hand-painted double coachline in Sunrise, which includes a motif of a leafy branch with pearl 'berries.' Of course, the Pantheon grille couldn't be left unaltered on a project such as this, so it's been polished and topped with a Rose Gold Spirit of Ecstasy mascot. The same metal is found in the engraved treadplates, while the wheels are 22-inch fully polished disc wheels with body-colored centers with Arctic White pinstripes.
Overall, it's certainly a unique look that won't necessarily have broad appeal, but that is partly the point with rare commissions. Rolls-Royce's Bespoke department says inspiration can come from anywhere, so if you have the scratch, Goodwood's artistes can bring your vision to life, too.
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