Two Rolls-Royce-owning pet parents in New York, USA, can now take their beloved Labrador-Golden Retriever mix Bailey wherever they drive thanks to, of all things, ancient woodworking skills developed by 13th Century Dominican monks and refined by modern-day artisans in England.
The longstanding Rolls-Royce client couple have demonstrated their absolute love for their hound through a one-off commission: a a Rolls-Royce Spectre themed themed around Bailey from nose to tail.
While their pet is priceless, the cost of the highly-personalised Spectre is believed to be approaching a mere $1million or so.
Bailey Depicted By Ancient Woodworking Techniques Made Modern
Rolls-Royce HQ in Goodwood, Sussex, England is home to a carefully-selected and highly-talented group of craftspeople who not only develop and refine techniques first seen in Ancient Egypt 4,600 years ago, then developed in Europe over the past 700 years, but also create new techniques and ideas for the luxury brand’s Bespoke division clients.
“For Rolls-Royce, one of the great joys of a Bespoke commission is becoming immersed in the client’s world and the unique story behind their vision,” said Phil Fabre de la Grange, Head of Bespoke, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.
“This is perfectly captured by Spectre Bailey, a charming commission that reaffirms that inspiration can come from anywhere. Our team was absolutely delighted to collaborate with our long-standing clients to bring this concept to life in a playful yet timeless manner, reflecting the special place Bailey holds in their hearts,” he added.
Centrepiece Marquetry Portrait Of Labrador-Golden Retriever Bailey
The interior of Spectre Bailey features “Moccasin” and “Crème Light” leather, with “Dark Spice” and “Casden Tan” accents, reminiscent of Bailey’s fur color, while the wood surfaces are finished in High Gloss “Royal Walnut” veneer.
But the centrepiece of the interior is a lifelike marquetry portrait of Bailey, positioned on the “waterfall” area between the rear seats. .
The intricate composition took upwards of four months to complete and comprises more than 180 pieces of veneer. Bailey’s tongue alone was crafted using four veneers never previously employed by Rolls-Royce – Purple Heart, Tulipwood, Louro Faia, and Pear.
Nine veneers were used, representing 22 natural shades, to create Bailey’s portrait.
The dashboard features a marquetry motif of Bailey’s paw print, that same pawprint being an engraving on the surround framing “Rose Gold” treadplates on the door sills.
Rolls-Royce paint specialists developed an iridescent two-tone finish, the main body finished in “Crystal Fusion” over “Beautiful Bailey”, a hue inspired by the soft fur on Bailey’s ear and which will never be used on future commissions except by the Spectre Bailey clients. The shoulder coachline features an exact reproduction of Bailey’s paw print, hand-painted in Rose Gold to match the Spirit of Ecstasy figurine.
The car was commissioned and client design ideas curated through Rolls-Royce’s Private Office New York, an invitation-only space for Bespoke commissioning. While the clients had a hand in the design, it is understood Bailey gave plenty of paws for thought.
The true measure of how accurately bespoke this commission is? Bailey made straight for the back seat and settled down for a snooze next to his very own portrait.