Sotheby’s to auction treasure trove of Lalanne Sculpture hidden till now
- 30 Jul 2023
Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer
A rediscovered treasure trove of Lalanne Sculpture, one of the last remaining pieces from the estate of the artists, hidden away in their workshop — the door to which was concealed by Francois-Xavier’s Bronze Bulls — is being offered in a dedicated auction in the gardens of Chateau de Courances by Sotheby’s Paris (Oct. 4) after a public exhibition (Sept. 30 — Oct. 3). It is destined to be another landmark in the reputed auction house’s unfolding story.
“A few years ago,” says Florent Jeanniard, Co-Worldwide Head of Sotheby’s Design, “Sotheby’s were chosen by the Lalanne family to carry out the inventory of Claude and Francois-Xavier Lalanne’s personal collection, housed within the perfectly ordered jumble of their sprawling home and workshops in Ury. Together with my colleagues, I stayed there for several days to catalogue everything – an unforgettable, once-in-a-life time experience exploring a life devoted to art.
With the landmark auction in October 2019, we thought that we had offered all there was of the furniture, objects and works of art from this incredible collection. “It is such a thrill to be able to reveal that there was one last set of treasures that had remained hidden away — giving collectors another chance to acquire a piece that had been treasured by Les Lalanne in their own collection.”
Following Claude’s passing in 2019, Sotheby’s hosted a dedicated two-day sale of their collection, with each lot in the sale appearing at auction directly from their home and studio. Showcasing over 280 artworks with which they chose to surround themselves, the invitation into their intimate world captured the attention of the collectors from 43 countries and the auction was 100 per cent sold, quadrupling its estimate to achieve €91.3 million (a record at the time for a Sotheby’s sale in France).
In coming October, Sotheby’s Paris will offer just under twenty sculptures by Claude and Francois-Xavier Lalanne, rediscovered in Ury, the last pieces remaining in their private collection. The Aladdin’s Cave of Art Wonders had remained hidden in a separate room in one of the buildings that made up their home, the door long-concealed by large bronze bulls, among Francois-Xavier’s largest, and heaviest, creations. T Sotheby’s offering includes some of the artists’ most recognisable designs as well as lesser-known creations.
Together, the capsule collection attempts to capture the inimitable spirit of Les Lalanne. The most iconic lot of the sale is the Boite de Sardines, a surrealist work in the form of a tin of sardines, commissioned in 1971 by high-society supermodel Jane Holzer, who was curating an exhibition of furniture in New York at Leo Castelli Gallery, the dealer to Andy Warhol and Cy Twombly. The piece was in later years acquired by legendary dealer and collector Alexander Iolas; but the Lalanne retained a soft spot for it, and bought it back for themselves at a Sotheby’s auction in 2005.
Prior to the auction, the sculptures were photographed in the captivating gardens of the Chateau de Courances, a short drive from Les Lalanne’s home, in a tribute to their mastery of the natural world and their constant engagement with the world around them.Les Lalanne is the term for the French artist team of Francois-Xavier Lalanne (1927 — 2008) and Claude Lalanne (1924 — 2019). The themes explored by the two collectively went against the current trend of Abstract art in the 1960s.
The couple believed and Francois-Xavier claimed that “the supreme art is the art of living”. The couple began attracting public attention in Paris during the 1960s when Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Berge commissioned them. In particular, Francois-Xavier’s realistic bronze cast sheep covered in skin alongside lily vanes cast by Claude were displayed in the library of Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Berge.
Their first exhibition together included Francois-Xavier’s famous rhinoceros desk, Rhinocretaire, and Claude’s cabbage with chicken legs sculpture. Similar themes by Les Lalanne have classified their works as an ode to Surrealism and Art Nouveau. The duo were known to co-create on projects rather than collaborate. While Francois-Xavier favoured sculpting animal themes, Claude preferred vegetation. But there is no confusion between their very different approaches to sculpture - moulding and assembly for her, drawing and construction for him - nor between their worlds - classical and architectural for Francois-Xavier and organic and baroque for Claude.
Established in 1744, Sotheby’s is one of the world’s premier destinations for art and luxury. It promotes access to and ownership of outstanding art and luxury objects through auctions and buy-now channels including private sales, e-commerce and retail. The auction house is supported by an industry-leading technology platform and a network of specialists spanning 40 countries and 70 categories which include Contemporary Art, Modern and Impressionist Art, Old Masters, Chinese Works of Art, Jewellery, Watches and Design, as well as collectible cars and real estate. Sotheby’s believes in the transformative power of art and culture and is committed to making cultural industries more inclusive, sustainable and collaborative.