Rolls-Royce Just Turned 1,000-Year-Old Chinese Art into Moving Masterpieces

Rolls-Royce has unveiled something truly special—a trio of one-of-a-kind creations inspired by the ancient mural art of Dunhuang, China. These bespoke motor cars were brought to life through Private Office Shanghai, a by-invitation-only experience where clients co-create unique, deeply personal vehicles. The collection features three models: Phantom Extended, Black Badge Cullinan, and Black Badge Spectre.

Each car in the trio showcases exterior colors developed exclusively for Private Office Shanghai customers. Drawing from the textures of silk, mountain skies, and cave murals, the central design theme, named “Silken Spirit,” appears throughout the collection. Created by designer Shuai Feng, the motif reinterprets the flowing elegance of silk and the Spirit of Ecstasy in a fresh, modern light.

The Phantom Extended takes personalization to another level. The exterior wears a two-tone palette with a deep Ningye Purple inspired by Tang Dynasty poetry and twilight skies near the Great Wall of China. A hand-painted Silken Spirit motif adorns the C-pillar, matching a white coachline. Inside, the Starlight Headliner includes 1,344 fiber-optic stars and 192 shooting stars. The cabin centerpiece is a hand-painted Gallery artwork on black leather, using a layered painting technique reminiscent of traditional block printing to bring out depth and emotion.

The seats are dressed in contrasting Black and Cashmere Grey leather, while the front and rear seating areas provide distinct ambiences. Cashmere Grey and Piano Black wood panels line the doors, with stainless steel inlays of the Silken Spirit adding a tactile, reflective element to the design.

The Black Badge Cullinan wears a bold Danqian Pink finish, which even extends to the 23-inch forged wheels. The Silken Spirit reappears subtly on the C-pillar and twin coachlines. Inside, the front seats are wrapped in Blushing Pink leather featuring over 107,000 tiny perforations that mimic the skies over Rolls-Royce’s Goodwood headquarters. Rear seats in Navy leather and accents in Blushing Pink create a dramatic contrast. An illuminated headliner displays the motif in a soft pink glow with white stars scattered overhead.

The Black Badge Spectre completes the trio with its daring Aero two-tone exterior: Qingshan Blue on the body and Diamond Black above. The grille is highlighted by a glowing Turchese finish, which also accents the treadplates, carpets, and interior trim. Inside, a dramatic color split divides the Turchese and Black leather treatment between front and rear seating. Both the Starlight Headliner and Doors sparkle with over 1,300 stars and nearly 200 shooting stars.

More than just a celebration of Chinese heritage, these motor cars reflect how craftsmanship and culture can come together in powerful ways. They are a fusion of ancient traditions and modern luxury, showing how storytelling and personal identity can shape the future of design. These commissions are not just vehicles—they are rolling works of art.