1953 Cadillac Flying Goddess Hood Ornament GM 1459705 Original Vintage Chrome
Description
Offered is an impressive1953 Cadillac Flying Goddess hood ornament, featuring Cadillac’s famous streamlined female figure with dramatic swept-back wings.
The ornament is associated withGM/Cadillac part #1459705, corresponding to the 1953 Flying Goddess hood-ornament assembly/base. The upper Goddess casting is commonly associated withCadillac part #1459707.
This is a substantial piece of early-1950s Cadillac styling with the distinctive long, low profile and sweeping wings.
Condition:Good vintage used condition. Chrome retains a strong shine but shows age-related surface wear, light pitting, scratches, oxidation/discoloration and other imperfections. The underside, mounting points and internal casting are shown in the photographs. No restoration or replating is #:1459705
Type:Flying Goddess / Winged Goddess Hood Ornament
Material:Chrome-plated die-cast metal
Exact model fitment should be independently confirmed using the part number and photographs.Sold exactly as pictured.
Suggested price:$495 Buy It Now with Best Offer.If there are no breaks or repairs, I would target is a1920s Pontiac Indian Head / “Flying Chief” radiator-cap mascot, and the overall design is consistent with the early Pontiac ornaments used shortly after Pontiac was introduced for 1926.
Your piece has the characteristicNative American profile with the large swept-back feather headdress, integrated directly into a large round radiator cap. Comparable examples are specifically identified as1920s Pontiac Indian Head radiator-cap hood ornaments, including examples attributed to 1926–29.
The strongest match I found is anoriginal 1927 Pontiac Indian Head radiator-cap ornament. Its basic construction and Flying Chief design correspond closely, and that example sold for$450.
Your ornament
I would identify yours as:
Circa 1926–1929 Pontiac “Flying Chief” Indian Head Radiator Cap Hood Ornament
However, yours is inrough condition. The photographs show extensive plating loss, oxidation/pitting, numerous age cracks in the pot-metal casting, cracking around the circular cap, and particularly significant cracking through the headdress/feather area. I would disclose all of that clearly.
One detail I would like to verify before narrowing it to1927 specificallyis the front rectangular panel on the radiator cap. On documented originals this area can carry Pontiac identification, and yours appears heavily worn or possibly missing its insert.
I would currently advertise it as1920s Pontiac, rather than claiming one exact year. The Pontiac attribution itself is considerably stronger than just calling it a generic aftermarket Indian mascot. Period Pontiac Indian-head radiator mascots are well documented, and the Chief Pontiac motif appeared on Pontiac radiator caps during this period.CUNY Graduate Center
If you want, I can next determine whether this exact casting is1926, 1927, 1928 or 1929by comparing each year's Pontiac radiator cap before we write the ad.
For the Pontiac mascot
- Narrow down the exact Pontiac year
vintage1928 Essex "Icarus" (or Winged Goddess/Man) radiator cap and hood ornament mascot
Yes —you are correct, and my previous Pontiac identification was wrong.
I checked the design specifically against1928 Essexmascots. Your piece is the1928 Essex “Icarus” radiator-cap mascot, also frequently described by sellers and collectors as theFlying Man, Flying Goddess, or Winged Goddess. Essex was part of the Hudson Motor Car Company. Multiple collector and sale references identify this distinctive winged figure as the1928 Essex radiator-cap ornament.Barnebys
The details in your photographs are a very strong match: themale face in profile, enormous upswept wing, outstretched arm and hand across the wing, sharply stylized Art Deco body, scroll decoration, vertically ribbed circular radiator cap, and integrated figure/cap construction. A collector discussion specifically notes that the mascot isIcarus and is male—not a flying lady, despite the “Flying Goddess” name often used in the marketplace.HET Club Open forum
There is also an sale inventory describing a“1928 Essex Mascot Flying Lady Radiator Cap/Hood Ornament” measuring approximately 8 × 4 inches, and specifically noting stress cracks—useful because these old die-cast pieces apparently suffer from the same deterioration visible on yours.Younger sale Company
Identification
1928 Essex Super Six “Icarus” Winged Man Radiator Cap / Hood Ornament Mascot — Hudson Motor Car Company
Your example appearsunrestored and heavily aged, with extensive plating loss, oxidation, crazing/stress cracking and several more substantial cracks through the wing/body casting. I wouldnot restore or polish itbefore selling; its untouched appearance is part of its appeal as an original-period piece.
For market context, a 1928 Essex Flying Winged Goddess ornament recently sold on for$345, while another sale example has been estimated at€400–€450. Condition and originality make a major difference.
For yours, because of the significant cracking, I would probably start around$349–$395 Buy It Now with Best Offer, rather than pricing it like a crack-free example.
If you want, I can write thecomplete title and description specifically for this 1928 Essex Icarus, making the condition disclosure strong enough to protect you from a buyer claiming the cracks weren't disclosed.
For the 1928 Essex mascot
- Set a realistic asking price
- Write the complete listing
write add Title
1928 Essex Icarus Winged Man Radiator Cap Hood Ornament Mascot Hudson Original
Description
Offered is a strikingvintage 1928 Essex “Icarus” radiator cap and hood ornament mascot, featuring the distinctive Art DecoWinged Mandesign associated with the Essex automobile produced by Hudson Motor Car Company.
This dramatic mascot depicts a stylized male figure with an enormous swept-back wing, outstretched arm and hand, and flowing geometric details incorporated into the original round radiator cap. This design is sometimes referred to as theEssex Flying Man, Winged Man, Winged Goddess or Flying Goddess, although “Icarus” is the more appropriate description of the male figure.
This is an impressive piece of1920s automotive Art Deco designand would make an excellent addition to an early automobile, Hudson/Essex, radiator mascot or automobilia collection.
CONDITION:This ornament is being sold inunrestored, as-found vintage condition. There is extensive age-related finish/plating loss, oxidation, discoloration, pitting and surface wear.There are numerous visible age/stress cracks throughout the casting, including cracking in the wing, figure and radiator-cap areas. Some cracks are substantial. Please examine all photographs closely for the exact condition.
The ornament hasnot been represented as restored, repaired or structurally sound for installation on a vehicle. Because of its age and casting deterioration, I would consider it primarily acollector/display piece.
Identification:1928 Essex
Design:Icarus / Winged Man
Type:Radiator Cap & Hood Ornament Mascot
Manufacturer:Essex / Hudson Motor Car Company
Era:1920s
Material:Plated cast metal / pot metal
Condition:Unrestored original vintage condition
A scarce and visually impressive surviving example of one of the more unusual American radiator mascots of the late 1920s.
Sold exactly as shown. Photographs are an important part of the description.
Final sale No Returns
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