Having already equipped its Bentayga customers with fly-fishing kits and high-end picnic hampers, Bentley has unveiled a new dedicated accessory for falconry enthusiasts. The Bentayga Falconry by Mulliner sees the British carmaker's premium SUV fitted with everything you might need for a successful falconry expedition – barring the bird itself.
The car is handcrafted by Mulliner, Bentley’s personal commissioning division, which is based in Crewe in the United Kingdom. Housed in the boot of the Bentayga Falconry are two separate units: a so-called master flight station and a refreshment case. The master flight unit features a veneered drawer, within which sit GPS tracking antennae, tools, tethers for the birds and a sleek, 3.5-inch, wooden-handled Buck knife. Beneath this is a stowage tray with the GPS bird-tracking unit, a pair of binoculars and handcrafted leather bird hoods and gauntlets.
The refreshment case, meanwhile, houses three metal flasks, durable cups, a blanket and face cloths. Two individual perches are stored in a separate case that slots into a hard pocket built into the inside of the boot, and there is also a removable transportation perch and tether attached to the central armrest. Which should be quite enough for even the most committed of falconry fans.
Extending on the theme, a desert scene unfolds above the glove compartment on the passenger side. Handcrafted from 430 individually selected pieces of wood, the marquetry scene centres on a soaring Saker falcon, one of the most sought-after and valued birds in the world. Woods from around the globe are used in the piece, including chestnut, eucalyptus pommelé, holly, lacewood, maple, olive ash and ripple sycamore.
Each of the 430 pieces of wood in the inlay have undergone four separate processes of cutting, sand shading, pressing and double cutting, before being assembled by hand over a nine-day period. The level of detailing is exquisite – the vanes of each individual feather are achieved by cutting the shape from specific veneers, while sand shading, a classic handcrafting technique that enhances definition, adds a darker gradient to the tips of the wings.
“The Bentayga Falconry showcases what’s possible with our skilled craftspeople,” says Geoff Dowding, director of Mulliner. “They can devise elegant and exquisitely executed bespoke solutions to complement any lifestyle or hobby. Falconry is regarded as the sport of kings in the Middle East, so it was vital that the kit we created was as luxurious as it was practical and durable to appeal to our valued customers there and around the world.”
The full kit, including the boxes, tray, in-car perch, perch stowage, all equipment and marquetry, is priced at US$100,000 (Dh367,300), and requires about 400 man-hours to create.
Read this and more stories in Luxury magazine, out with The National on Thursday, June 15.
sdenman@thenational.ae