*Original, Art Deco, “Rocket Man” La Salle Hood Ornament - Car Mascot on Quartz Base*
An elegant Art Deco La Salle chrome-plated car mascot depicting a streamlined “Rocket Man” or winged figure in full flight, arms extended and body tapering to a swept aerodynamic tail. The sculpture captures the interwar fascination with speed, flight, and progress, and is now mounted on a pink quartz (or marble) plinth with a green felt underside for display.
Measurements: Mascot only: 15.5 cm long (excluding base) × 2.5 cm wide × 8.5 cm tall. Base: 12.5 cm × 10.2 cm × 2 cm. Total height: approx. 10.5 cm; overall length: approx. 17 cm
Historical Note: The La Salle “Flying Man” type mascot was introduced around 1927, the debut year of the La Salle automobile marque — Cadillac’s companion brand under General Motors. Named after the 17th-century French explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, the marque was created to embody exploration, elegance, and forward motion. Styled by the legendary Harley Earl, the 1927 La Salle was among the first production cars to be shaped with deliberate aesthetic design rather than engineering necessity, setting a precedent for all future automotive styling. Its mascots and trim reflected the same spirit of modernism and motion, with streamlined figures and winged forms symbolising speed and elegance.
Comparable winged mascots were used on La Salle and Cadillac models throughout the late 1920s and early 1930s, and similar examples were also sold as aftermarket accessories through American and British motor accessory catalogues. This piece exemplifies that early Streamline Moderne design language, placing it firmly within the La Salle–Cadillac tradition of the era.
*Condition* Chrome remains bright with minor pitting and light surface wear consistent with age. Mounting slightly loose but stable. Stone base sound with a few small edge chips and natural inclusions. Felt underside intact. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.
