Rolls-Royce reveals three new woodworking techniques on Phantom

To celebrate 100 years of the Phantom, Rolls-Royce will debut a private collection featuring three new woodworking techniques.

The marque states that this is the “most intricate woodwork” in its history, with artists undertaking special training as part of a one-year development process to carry out this design work.

Each composition is first sketched by hand, then translated into digital form and recreated in wood. These designs are inspired by spaces and journeys, such as geographical maps and floral elements, that have shaped the Phantom’s story.

The three woodworking techniques are seen on the interior veneer door made of Blackwood. First, each section is created separately and then assembled like a mosaic.

The natural grain of each piece of Blackwood dictated it’s positioning within the composition – taking into account how the grain catches the light at different angles to ensure new textures and details are revealed each time the material is viewed.

Next, laser-etched elements such as landscapes and other nature motifs are etched onto the wood at three different depths; the deeper the etch, the darker the wood.

New woodworking techniques for Rolls-Royce

Raised motifs are embellished with engraving and 3D ink layering on top of the main wood surface to create the 3D marquetry.

3D ink-layering adds texture and patten to the surface of the wood, building up in gradual strokes – this means the artists can be precise with the final look.

After five artists from the Interior Surface Centre took a course at West Dean College to master the technique of gold leafing, 24 carat gold leaves were hand-laid to create the road shown on the map before being sealed with a protective coating.

Rolls-Royce also recently tackled a fully hand-painted Starlight Headliner that depicted the Milky Way, taking more than 20 applications of acrylic paint.