Curated by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Private Office Dubai, one of five invitation-only commissioning hubs in key global luxury destinations, this Phantom Extended celebrates the forms and geometry of traditional mashrabiya latticework – a defining feature of traditional houses, palaces and courtyards throughout the Middle East. The mashrabiya pattern is reinterpreted as the first laser-engraved bonnet ever created for a Rolls-Royce, as an intricate Blackwood and Bolivar marquetry Gallery artwork, and as Bespoke motifs placed throughout the motor car.
In an architectural setting, a mashrabiya is built with intricately carved wooden screens that provide privacy, allowing those inside to look out without being seen. The latticework also encourages airflow, providing natural cooling for the building’s interior.
“Mashrabiya is one of the Middle East’s best-known and most enduring design languages. For Phantom Arabesque, we were inspired not only by its beauty but also by the privacy, light and airflow it creates. Our aim was to interpret these qualities in ways that feel both culturally rooted and unmistakably Rolls-Royce,” said Michelle Lusby, Bespoke Lead Designer, Private Office Dubai
Phantom Arabesque is the first Rolls-Royce in history to feature a fully laser-engraved bonnet. This newly patented technique is the result of a five-year development programme led by the marque’s Exterior Surface Centre and draws inspiration from the Italian sgraffito technique.
The geometric mashrabiya pattern is engraved to a depth of 145–190 microns into the uppermost surface, revealing the darker tone beneath. Each of the engraved areas is hand-sanded to ensure an even finish. The project brought together the expertise of the Exterior Surface Centre.
“Laser engraving allows us to create a surface that is both technically precise and visually alive. Developing this patented process required years of experimentation by the entire team. Phantom Arabesque is the first expression of a technique that opens entirely new creative possibilities for future clients,” said Tobias Sicheneder, General Manager, Exterior Surface Centre
Phantom Arabesque is presented in a Bespoke two-tone finish, with the main body in Diamond Black and the upper surfaces in Silver. The same colour is used for the single hand-painted Short Coachline, elevated with a mashrabiya motif. The exterior includes an illuminated Pantheon grille, a Dark Chrome surround, an uplit Spirit of Ecstasy figurine, and 22-inch part-polished alloy wheels.
The interior centrepiece is presented within the Gallery, featuring a Bespoke marquetry artwork crafted from Blackwood and Black Bolivar wood, echoing the mashrabiya design cues. The interior suite is finished in Selby Grey and Black leathers with Black seat piping and carpets, with Black mashrabiya motifs embroidered on the headrests. Illuminated treadplates bearing a cross-section of the bonnet engraving motif complete the commission.
Rolls-Royce Phantom Arabesque was delivered to the commissioning client from the Middle East, taking its place within their collection.
