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Automobile Mascot Exhibit at Birks Museum

If you enjoy the style, elegance, and extravagance of classic automobiles, then you will appreciate a type of art "connected" to classic cars. The Millikin University Birks Museum is hosting an exhibit of over 150 items from the Lynn Huntsburger collection of hood ornaments associated with vintage automobiles dating back to the early 20^th century. The exhibit will be on display from April 7, 2001 through May 4, 2001. 

The opening of this exhibit will be Saturday, April 7, 2001 from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. at the Birks Museum and is free to the public. The opening of the exhibit will include a reception with refreshments, along with a chance to view some of the museum's other interesting decorative art collections from many areas in Europe, Asia, and of course, America. 

The history of car mascots dates back to the time of the Roman Empire during which miniature statues of mythical gods were placed on chariots as symbols of good luck. They became popularized in Europe and America at the end of the nineteenth century. Like many of the mascots from Mr. Huntsburger's collection, antique hood ornaments were constructed of crystal glass and other types of metal. Even the term "mascots" for hood ornaments evolved from the decorations adorning radiator caps that depicted animals and other statuettes on antique automobiles from the earlier half of the twentieth century. Some of the more bizarre and interesting mascots included skull and crossbones, a pig jumping through a horseshoe, and spinning propellers. The popularity of car mascots faded by the 1960's when they were replaced with simplified emblems like the ones appearing on modern cars of today.

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