TRULY UNIQUE
Commissioned by Japanese entrepreneur, art collector and supercar enthusiast Yusaku Maezawa, this bespoke Rolls-Royce Phantom was created in a unique collaboration with Hermès
When entrepreneur Yusaku Maezawa commissioned this Rolls-Royce Phantom he envisioned the car as a ‘land jet’, to complement a recently commissioned private aircraft, bringing the serene exclusivity of private air travel to the road.
Designed and handcrafted by a combined team of specialists at the home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood and Hermès in Paris, the car’s striking two-tone exterior matches the characteristic green and cream glazes of antique Japanese Oribe ware, of which Maezawa-san is a prominent collector.
The upper part is finished in Oribe green, a fully bespoke colour created exclusively for the client and, in an unusual move, Rolls-Royce has made the paint available for use on the client’s private jet that the Phantom is to be paired with. Developed over many months by specialists in Rolls-Royce’s Surface Finish Centre at Goodwood, it perfectly captures the lustrous, deep-green glaze that characterises these 16th century ceramics. The effect is beautifully complemented by the cream-white lower section.
The Oribe ware-inspired colourway harmoniously continues through the interior, created and realised through a true meeting of minds between Hermès designers and craftspeople in Paris, and the Rolls-Royce collective of designers and engineers. Together, they applied their shared expertise and ingenuity to ensure every individual component embodies the finest traditions of both houses.
The interior is finished predominantly in Hermès Enea green leather, extending to details that include the immediate touch-points – for example, the steering wheel, duchess handles, gear selector and the rotary controls for the car’s climate settings.
The Hermès leather flows around the upper instrument panel, interior pillars and parcel shelf. It also enrobes less visible surfaces including the glove compartment and luggage compartment lining, centre console, decanter stowage compartment and Champagne cooler.
Delicate Hermès piping adorns the headrest cushions and calf supports of the rear seats, while soft Seashell white accents and matching lambswool floor mats create a sense of light and space throughout.
The interior also features examples of Rolls-Royce design and handcraftsmanship. Wooden speaker frets, for example, are formed by meticulously perforating the open pore royal walnut veneer applied to the doors, creating a seamless, textured aesthetic. Open pore royal walnut is additionally applied to the centre and rear consoles and, in another first for Rolls-Royce, the interior features Hermès Toile H canvas on the door armrests, centre and rear consoles and, most notably, the signature headliner.
Hermès brings its distinctive equestrian heritage and innovative craftsmanship know-how to the car, with the leather upholstery created using stitching and edge-painting techniques originally employed by master saddlers. For the unique ‘Phantom’s Gallery’ that runs the length of the car’s fascia, Hermès commissioned an artwork based on a design by celebrated French artist and illustrator Pierre Péron (1905–1988) who created many of Hermes’ iconic scarves. The work, inspired by the famous Hermès horse motif, is hand-painted on open pore royal walnut and is presented as though staged in an art gallery, behind glass.
Torsten Müller-Ötvös Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, comments: “This majestic and tasteful Rolls-Royce Phantom demonstrates what is possible when talented people from two of the world’s great houses work closely together alongside a far-sighted, inspirational client like Maezawa-san. It is a meeting of minds, expertise, visions and skill that represents the very best of our respective craftspeople and capabilities. It has been an extraordinary privilege to unite on such a creatively challenging, technically demanding commission and bring our client’s remarkable vision so beautifully to life.”
