Have you ever wondered what happens when the absolute peak of luxury meets a century of design evolution? Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Rolls-Royce Phantom intricate woodwork with an extraordinary feat of craftsmanship. For this special milestone, the marque is unveiling a Private Collection model. This exclusive car features the most complex and detailed interior woodwork in its long history. It is an amazing tribute to the legendary Phantom nameplate. These innovations push the boundaries of what is possible with wood veneer.
A New Era for Rolls-Royce Interior Craft
Rolls-Royce will soon reveal an exclusive Private Collection to honor this centenary. Designers and craftspeople went further than ever before for this project. They developed three groundbreaking woodworking techniques, a first for any Rolls-Royce. These new methods include 3D marquetry, 3D ink layering, and gold leafing. Each unique composition tells a different story. These narratives capture journeys and moments that have defined the Phantom’s legacy. The intricate processes used transform each wood panel. They create a stunning and highly tactile sculpture for the occupants.
The Most Complex Door Treatments Ever
The interior door treatment alone took a full year of dedicated development. This is because they are the most complex in Rolls-Royce history. Every surface reflects a tribute to Phantom’s 100-year story. The incredible artwork visually blends geographical maps and sweeping landscapes. It even includes floral elements in a stunning composition. Artisans crafted sections individually, assembling them like a complex mosaic. Blackwood was chosen for its unique and beautiful grain pattern.
The Beauty of Subtlety: Laser Etching
The design features, like maps and landscapes, are etched onto the wood. This laser etching is done at three different depths. Each shadow and line carries echoes of Phantom’s century of stories. Areas that are more deeply-etched appear darker. This provides a nice contrast to the more reflective unetched veneer. It produces subtle shifts in color and light, adding a great sense of movement. This technique adds texture that goes far beyond simple linework.
Building Texture with 3D Ink Layering
The marque’s artisans created an all-new 3D ink layering technology. This refined process adds fine textures and intricate patterns directly onto the wood surface. It gradually builds the Phantom’s narrative through many individual layers. These embellishments achieve an extraordinary level of precision and clarity. They stand in contrast to the recessed, etched motifs.
Sculptural Surfaces from 3D Marquetry
To introduce even more texture to the artwork, the designer employed 3D marquetry. This technique introduces raised motifs on top of the main wood surface. These elements are also embellished with engraving and 3D ink layering. This allows the car’s history to rise in a new dimension. Occupants can feel this history as much as they see it. The three-dimensional approach adds detail and a sense of tactile intrigue.
Gilding: The Art of Gold Leafing
This unique woodwork introduces a fascinating Rolls-Royce first: gilding. Also known as gold leafing, this process transforms Phantom’s journeys. It turns them into luminous threads of history. This method draws on centuries-old cabinet-making traditions. Rolls-Royce adapted and perfected it to meet their extreme testing parameters. Five dedicated artisans undertook a special course to master this unique technique. They used 24-carat gold leaves to depict roads on the map section. These squares of gold leaf are incredibly thin. They are carefully hand-laid, then sealed for a hard-wearing finish. The ‘road’ is precision-cut and inlaid within the marquetry.
Summary
The most significant journeys in the Phantom’s past are now luminous threads of history. In its complexity and visual effect, this remarkable wood treatment is a completely new form of wood sculpting. It represents a significant evolution in contemporary craft. These exquisite innovations will debut on a Private Collection model. This car celebrates the Phantom, which is the very pinnacle of Rolls-Royce.
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Source: Rolls-Royce
