He attended the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris and was heavily influenced as a pupil by the French medallists Jules-Clément Chaplain (1839–1909), and Hubert Ponscarme (1827–1903)[3] and worked alongside Alexandre Charpentier (1856–1909), who had been an assistant to Ponscarme.

[4] Lafleur was awarded a gold medal, and on 8 August 1920 he was nominated to the grade of Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur.

[5][6] The trophy was 35 cm in height, weighed 3.8 kg and was made of gold-plated sterling silver, with a blue base of semi-precious stone (lapis lazuli).

The sculpture, although based on the incomplete Nike of Samothrace ("The Goddess of Victory"), which remains on display at the Louvre, was designed to include the shallow, octagonal cup supported by upraised arms and a garland surrounding the model's head.

Lafleur knowingly dispensed with the faithful, dynamic design (as used by Rolls-Royce to adorn their vehicles) but decided on a static representation that would assist in how the trophy was held.