François-Xavier LALANNE (1927-2008)
Except otherwise stated, all results include the premium.
See also : Chairs and seats Modern tables
Chronology : 1979 2001 2004 2006
See also : Chairs and seats Modern tables
Chronology : 1979 2001 2004 2006
Intro
Pierre Restany promotes under the wording Nouveaux Réalistes a new art which appropriates the industrial object. In 1964 the Galerie J devotes an exhibition to two sculptors, François-Xavier Lalanne and Claude, his companion and future wife.
Their conceptions and their product lines are complementary. François-Xavier maintains the functionality of his models of furniture even when they are zoomorphic. Claude creates decorative objects for the living room or the garden with an unlimited imagination. They will sign their works jointly from 1966 : Les Lalanne.
In that seminal exhibition, the two flagship pieces were François-Xavier's Rhinocrétaire and Claude's Choupatte. Pierre Bergé and Yves Saint-Laurent were enthusiastic about the Rhinocrétaire.
Their conceptions and their product lines are complementary. François-Xavier maintains the functionality of his models of furniture even when they are zoomorphic. Claude creates decorative objects for the living room or the garden with an unlimited imagination. They will sign their works jointly from 1966 : Les Lalanne.
In that seminal exhibition, the two flagship pieces were François-Xavier's Rhinocrétaire and Claude's Choupatte. Pierre Bergé and Yves Saint-Laurent were enthusiastic about the Rhinocrétaire.
from 1965 Moutons
1
1976 Group of 24
2012 SOLD for $ 5.7M by Christie's
An unusual idea can provide an overnight fame to an artist. In 1965, François-Xavier Lalanne creates a sensation in Paris at the Salon de la Jeune Peinture.
He designed a small bench in wood and aluminum, covered with wool, with four feet. All furniture manufacturers run their models in multiple copies: Lalanne standardizes the quantity to 24. Thus was born his flock of life size sheep, worthy of the best ideas of surrealism but in an extreme simplicity of interpretation.
The set is funny. The sheep with a proudly raised head is a bench with a hat holder and the headless sheep is an ottoman. This is a clear invitation to leave the pieces together : headless animals are considered occupied to graze within the group, protected by the external figures.
His first flock of 24 sheep is entitled Pour Polyphème. The artist's goal was to exhibit an innovative, utilitarian, monumental and modifiable work.
Throughout his career, Lalanne reissues his sheep. The first series, coated with real wool, are called the Moutons de Laine.
A flock made in 1968-1969 of five sheep and nine ottomans was sold for € 1.75M by Christie's on December 4, 2012, lot 22.
A pair dated 1969 was sold for € 1.57M by Sotheby's on November 21, 2017, lot 38.
A complete herd of seven white sheep, one black sheep and sixteen ottomans was sold for $ 5.7M from a lower estimate of $ 4M by Christie's on November 14, 2012, lot 43. This set had been purchased in 1976 by an American couple to fill a barn.
He designed a small bench in wood and aluminum, covered with wool, with four feet. All furniture manufacturers run their models in multiple copies: Lalanne standardizes the quantity to 24. Thus was born his flock of life size sheep, worthy of the best ideas of surrealism but in an extreme simplicity of interpretation.
The set is funny. The sheep with a proudly raised head is a bench with a hat holder and the headless sheep is an ottoman. This is a clear invitation to leave the pieces together : headless animals are considered occupied to graze within the group, protected by the external figures.
His first flock of 24 sheep is entitled Pour Polyphème. The artist's goal was to exhibit an innovative, utilitarian, monumental and modifiable work.
Throughout his career, Lalanne reissues his sheep. The first series, coated with real wool, are called the Moutons de Laine.
A flock made in 1968-1969 of five sheep and nine ottomans was sold for € 1.75M by Christie's on December 4, 2012, lot 22.
A pair dated 1969 was sold for € 1.57M by Sotheby's on November 21, 2017, lot 38.
A complete herd of seven white sheep, one black sheep and sixteen ottomans was sold for $ 5.7M from a lower estimate of $ 4M by Christie's on November 14, 2012, lot 43. This set had been purchased in 1976 by an American couple to fill a barn.
2
1979 Group of 10
2011 SOLD for $ 7.5M by Christie's
The success of the Moutons de Laine gives rise to new variants : the ram, the ewe, the lamb. The Mouton de Pierre appears in 1979 for use in the garden. It is in epoxy concrete and bronze, without wheels and without wool. It is first edited in 250 numbered units, later in small series of replicas.
A homogeneous group of ten Moutons de Pierre from the first edition was sold for $ 7.5M by Christie's on December 17, 2011, lot 303, from a lower estimate of $ 600K.
A group of ten was sold for $ 2.9M by Christie's on December 4, 2020, lot 608.
It is composed of one Bélier, three Moutons Transhumants, two Moutons de Pierre, two Brebis and two Agneaux, made between 1979 and 2004.
A homogeneous group of ten Moutons de Pierre from the first edition was sold for $ 7.5M by Christie's on December 17, 2011, lot 303, from a lower estimate of $ 600K.
A group of ten was sold for $ 2.9M by Christie's on December 4, 2020, lot 608.
It is composed of one Bélier, three Moutons Transhumants, two Moutons de Pierre, two Brebis and two Agneaux, made between 1979 and 2004.
1970 Bar aux Autruches
2017 SOLD for € 6.2M by Sotheby's
Created around 1882, the Pâte Nouvelle is a new hard paste developed by the Manufacture de Porcelaine de Sèvres, prepared at a lower temperature than the porcelains of the previous century. Around 1965 Antoine d'Albis, head of the Manufacture laboratory, develops on a similar principle an intensely white porcelain referenced PA.A. François-Xavier Lalanne is interested.
Georges Pompidou was a great sponsor of contemporary art. His accession to the presidency of the French Republic in 1969 encouraged new projects.
In 1970 Lalanne edits two very prestigious bars using the new ultra-white porcelain. The Grasshopper Bar, 175 cm long, is produced in two copies only. One was offered by President Pompidou to Queen Elizabeth II in 1972. The other was sold for $ 1.64M by Sotheby's on May 24, 2018, lot 449.
The Bar aux Autruches, 194 cm long overall, is much original in its design. The tray is held on each side in the beak of an ostrich. The standing birds turn their backs each other for the balance. The folding wings open laterally on a bottle rack. The tray is centered with a removable ice bucket in the shape of an egg. The ostriches are dated 1967 and bear the mark of the Manufacture de Sèvres.
The Ostrich bar was assembled in six units. One of them is exhibited in the permanent collections of the Musée de Sèvres and another one was deposited at the Palais de l'Elysée at the request of Pompidou. Another copy was sold for € 6.2M by Sotheby's on November 21, 2017 from a lower estimate of € 700K, lot 40.
Georges Pompidou was a great sponsor of contemporary art. His accession to the presidency of the French Republic in 1969 encouraged new projects.
In 1970 Lalanne edits two very prestigious bars using the new ultra-white porcelain. The Grasshopper Bar, 175 cm long, is produced in two copies only. One was offered by President Pompidou to Queen Elizabeth II in 1972. The other was sold for $ 1.64M by Sotheby's on May 24, 2018, lot 449.
The Bar aux Autruches, 194 cm long overall, is much original in its design. The tray is held on each side in the beak of an ostrich. The standing birds turn their backs each other for the balance. The folding wings open laterally on a bottle rack. The tray is centered with a removable ice bucket in the shape of an egg. The ostriches are dated 1967 and bear the mark of the Manufacture de Sèvres.
The Ostrich bar was assembled in six units. One of them is exhibited in the permanent collections of the Musée de Sèvres and another one was deposited at the Palais de l'Elysée at the request of Pompidou. Another copy was sold for € 6.2M by Sotheby's on November 21, 2017 from a lower estimate of € 700K, lot 40.
1986 Hippo Bar
2021 SOLD for € 6.1M by Sotheby's
Despite its scarcity, the Hippo Bar looks like a synthesis of the zoomorphic functional furniture by François-Xavier Lalanne.
Bar and hippopotamus went indeed early in his career, separately. The tubular non animal bar commissioned by Yves Saint-Laurent and Pierre Bergé in 1965 was sold for € 2.75M by Christie's on February 25, 2009, lot 348. This style had some limited following. The Mayersdorff bar, made in 1966, was sold by Christie's on May 17, 2018 for $ 4.6M, lot 3 B.
The zoomorphic bars include the Bar aux Autruches, edited in 1970. An example was sold for € 6.2M by Sotheby's in 2017, lot 40.
The history of the hippopotamus in Lalanne design starts in 1968 with the life size bathtub in blue resin prepared for Marcel Duchamp and supplied to his widow in 1969. Lalanne commented that the river horse is better suited than a zebra for that application.
Duchamp's bathtub was an operational failure. It is too large to be installed in the bathroom, and Teeny, Marcel's widow, leaves it in her living room. In 1969 Lalanne makes a hippopotamus bathtub in brass and copper. This unique piece 128 x 84 x 290 cm was sold for $ 4.3M by Christie's on November 12, 2019, lot 13 M.
The obese belly of that animal looks like a French commode galbée, isn't it ? It may also cheerfully carry on its shelves and trays glasses, shakers, bottles, ice, bar spoons and juicers.
The Hippo Bar was cast in bronze in eight copies in 1986. It is 100 x 200 x 73 cm as a closed animal and 140 x 150 x 73 cm as an opened bar. The number 4/8 was acquired by a woman as a gift to her husband for their 40th wedding anniversary and had been kept in that family. It was sold for € 6.1M from a lower estimate of € 2M by Sotheby's on November 23, 2021, lot 23. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
Bar and hippopotamus went indeed early in his career, separately. The tubular non animal bar commissioned by Yves Saint-Laurent and Pierre Bergé in 1965 was sold for € 2.75M by Christie's on February 25, 2009, lot 348. This style had some limited following. The Mayersdorff bar, made in 1966, was sold by Christie's on May 17, 2018 for $ 4.6M, lot 3 B.
The zoomorphic bars include the Bar aux Autruches, edited in 1970. An example was sold for € 6.2M by Sotheby's in 2017, lot 40.
The history of the hippopotamus in Lalanne design starts in 1968 with the life size bathtub in blue resin prepared for Marcel Duchamp and supplied to his widow in 1969. Lalanne commented that the river horse is better suited than a zebra for that application.
Duchamp's bathtub was an operational failure. It is too large to be installed in the bathroom, and Teeny, Marcel's widow, leaves it in her living room. In 1969 Lalanne makes a hippopotamus bathtub in brass and copper. This unique piece 128 x 84 x 290 cm was sold for $ 4.3M by Christie's on November 12, 2019, lot 13 M.
The obese belly of that animal looks like a French commode galbée, isn't it ? It may also cheerfully carry on its shelves and trays glasses, shakers, bottles, ice, bar spoons and juicers.
The Hippo Bar was cast in bronze in eight copies in 1986. It is 100 x 200 x 73 cm as a closed animal and 140 x 150 x 73 cm as an opened bar. The number 4/8 was acquired by a woman as a gift to her husband for their 40th wedding anniversary and had been kept in that family. It was sold for € 6.1M from a lower estimate of € 2M by Sotheby's on November 23, 2021, lot 23. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
1991 Rhinocrétaire
2019 SOLD for € 5.4M by Sotheby's
Throughout their long career, les Lalanne accumulate new subjects without interrupting the old themes. On 23 and 24 October, 2019, Sotheby's sold the works that they were keeping in their home and studio near Fontainebleau.
The lot 13 estimated € 700K was a Rhinocrétaire 2.55 m long in welded metal. Opening a fall front of the beast unfolds the desk. This unique piece made in 1991 was certainly assembled for the personal use of the artist. It was sold for € 5.4M.
The lot 33 estimated € 150K was a Choupatte (Très Grand) 117 x 135 cm from an edition of 8 made in 2012 in patinated bronze. It was sold for € 2.17M.
The lot 13 estimated € 700K was a Rhinocrétaire 2.55 m long in welded metal. Opening a fall front of the beast unfolds the desk. This unique piece made in 1991 was certainly assembled for the personal use of the artist. It was sold for € 5.4M.
The lot 33 estimated € 150K was a Choupatte (Très Grand) 117 x 135 cm from an edition of 8 made in 2012 in patinated bronze. It was sold for € 2.17M.
2001 Troupeau d'Eléphants dans les Arbres
2021 SOLD for $ 6.6M by Christie's
Troupeau d'éléphants dans les arbres is a playful installation made in 2001 by François-Xavier Lalanne, mingling furniture and animal art. An example was sold for $ 6.6M from a lower estimate of $ 1M by Christie's on June 10, 2021, lot 17. It had been commissioned by Sydell Miller and was a highlight of her 'La Rêverie' Palm Beach home. Four others were made for other customers.
The octagonal table in gilt bronze and glass is 81 cm high and 160 cm in diameter. Its four legs are trees. The branches without leaves support the top. The seven elephants of various sizes in gilt bronze are standing each alone on various attitudes. They may be positioned under or on the table, like toys. The biggest is 52 cm high.
Interestingly this composition associates the signature animal models of François-Xavier with the vegetal world of Claude.
The octagonal table in gilt bronze and glass is 81 cm high and 160 cm in diameter. Its four legs are trees. The branches without leaves support the top. The seven elephants of various sizes in gilt bronze are standing each alone on various attitudes. They may be positioned under or on the table, like toys. The biggest is 52 cm high.
Interestingly this composition associates the signature animal models of François-Xavier with the vegetal world of Claude.
2004 Le Minotaure
2021 SOLD for € 8M by Sotheby's
The fancy tales of Greek mythology inspire François-Xavier Lalanne. The very first flock of his signature Moutons seats was titled Pour Polyphème.
In 1990, in a special project for the park of an artistic center close to their home near Fontainebleau, Claude Lalanne adds a recliner onto the bull in a piece which is no more a usable seat. The character is the life size nude Europe abducted by her loving bull. The bronze prototype, 200 cm high, 202 cm long and 85 cm wide, was sold for € 1.24M by the Fontainebleau auction house Osenat on October 3, 2021, lot 1.
François-Xavier takes the follow in a nice example of mutual inspiration in the couple. His Minotaure, 202 x 190 x 67 cm, is exactly scaled like L'Enlèvement d'Europe. Made in 2004 in eight copies in patinated bronze sheet with the foundry mark of Bocquel, it is also definitely not a seat. It features the raised torso and hanging arms of a man between the proud horned head and the body of a bull.
Coming from the collection of Dorothée Lalanne, the Minotaure 4/8 was sold for € 8M from a lower estimate of € 1M by Sotheby's on November 4, 2021, lot 14.
In 1990, in a special project for the park of an artistic center close to their home near Fontainebleau, Claude Lalanne adds a recliner onto the bull in a piece which is no more a usable seat. The character is the life size nude Europe abducted by her loving bull. The bronze prototype, 200 cm high, 202 cm long and 85 cm wide, was sold for € 1.24M by the Fontainebleau auction house Osenat on October 3, 2021, lot 1.
François-Xavier takes the follow in a nice example of mutual inspiration in the couple. His Minotaure, 202 x 190 x 67 cm, is exactly scaled like L'Enlèvement d'Europe. Made in 2004 in eight copies in patinated bronze sheet with the foundry mark of Bocquel, it is also definitely not a seat. It features the raised torso and hanging arms of a man between the proud horned head and the body of a bull.
Coming from the collection of Dorothée Lalanne, the Minotaure 4/8 was sold for € 8M from a lower estimate of € 1M by Sotheby's on November 4, 2021, lot 14.
2005 Léopard
2021 SOLD for € 8.3M by Sotheby's
In the early art of François-Xavier Lalanne, animals were integrated as pieces of furniture. The monkey sitting on a shelf as an edge decoration did not prevent the use of the supporting piece for practical furnishing.
The reclining leopards can do better as their legs can also lazily hang. From that early conception dated from 1974, a pair of drawings dated 1994 fetched € 5,300 at Sotheby's in the second day of the sale of the collection of Dorothée Lalanne, lot 33. One foreleg is posed and the other three legs are hanging
If the beast occupies the full surface of a narrow shelf, the table loses its practical use. Léopard I, executed in eight copies in 2005, features the same animal in exactly the same position as in the example above, perched on an empty wood frame. Its spots are made by a double patina on the bronze and the support is in tinted ash for an overall size of 145 x 127 x 40 cm.
On November 4, 2021 in the same auction as above, Sotheby's sold the 5/8 for € 8.3M from a lower estimate of € 400K, lot 41.
A 75 cm high Singe cast in 1999 with gold patina was sold for $ 4M by Sotheby's on July 30, 2020, lot 129.
The reclining leopards can do better as their legs can also lazily hang. From that early conception dated from 1974, a pair of drawings dated 1994 fetched € 5,300 at Sotheby's in the second day of the sale of the collection of Dorothée Lalanne, lot 33. One foreleg is posed and the other three legs are hanging
If the beast occupies the full surface of a narrow shelf, the table loses its practical use. Léopard I, executed in eight copies in 2005, features the same animal in exactly the same position as in the example above, perched on an empty wood frame. Its spots are made by a double patina on the bronze and the support is in tinted ash for an overall size of 145 x 127 x 40 cm.
On November 4, 2021 in the same auction as above, Sotheby's sold the 5/8 for € 8.3M from a lower estimate of € 400K, lot 41.
A 75 cm high Singe cast in 1999 with gold patina was sold for $ 4M by Sotheby's on July 30, 2020, lot 129.
2006 Gorille de Sureté
2021 SOLD for € 6.3M by Sotheby's
The gorilla is an early guest in the bestiary of François-Xavier Lalanne. His apes are typically inspired by the animal-gods he admired in his youth in the Egyptian galleries of the Musée du Louvre.
In Egypt the monkey is the wise guardian of the world. Lalanne viewed it consequently from 1970 as a safe with its treasure within its chest and features it in the seated position of Buddha on the lotus.
The first series of the Gorille de Sûreté, 160 x 105 x 90 cm, was edited in 1984 as a bronze cast in eight copies plus four artist's proofs by Bocquel. The 1/8 was sold for HK$ 18.4M by Sotheby's on July 9, 2020, lot 1113.
The second series, 164 x 100 x 90 cm, was cast in 2006 by Bocquel. Coming from the collection of Dorothée Lalanne, the gilt patinated 3/8 was sold for € 6.3M from a lower estimate of € 400K by Sotheby's on November 4, 2021, lot 28. The 2/8 was sold for € 1.93M by Sotheby's on October 24, 2019, lot 28.
In Egypt the monkey is the wise guardian of the world. Lalanne viewed it consequently from 1970 as a safe with its treasure within its chest and features it in the seated position of Buddha on the lotus.
The first series of the Gorille de Sûreté, 160 x 105 x 90 cm, was edited in 1984 as a bronze cast in eight copies plus four artist's proofs by Bocquel. The 1/8 was sold for HK$ 18.4M by Sotheby's on July 9, 2020, lot 1113.
The second series, 164 x 100 x 90 cm, was cast in 2006 by Bocquel. Coming from the collection of Dorothée Lalanne, the gilt patinated 3/8 was sold for € 6.3M from a lower estimate of € 400K by Sotheby's on November 4, 2021, lot 28. The 2/8 was sold for € 1.93M by Sotheby's on October 24, 2019, lot 28.
2008 Grand Mouflon de Pauline
2022 for sale on November 3 by Sotheby's
waiting for catalogue
Novanta opere dei Lalanne in asta da Sotheby's il prossimo autunno - ArtsLife https://t.co/sTRIZNGVeU
— Sotheby's France (@SothebysFr) July 29, 2022
Grand Requin
2022 for sale in November by Christie's
waiting for date and catalogue
This autumn admirers of the artist duo #LesLalanne will have the chance to bid on both sides of the Atlantic.
— Barnebys.co.uk (@Barnebysuk) August 3, 2022
The collections of two of their daughters will go under the hammer in New York and Paris:
2017 Rhinocrétaire (posthumous)
2022 SOLD for € 5.5M by Sotheby's
A piece of furniture identified as Grand Rhinocéros II and Grand Rhinocrétaire II was sold for € 5.5M from a lower estimate of € 2M by Sotheby's on May 24, 2022, lot 140.
250 cm long for 145 cm high and 61 cm deep, this piece had been designed in 2002. This posthumous example is number 7/8 by Bocquel, dated 2017, in gilt patinated bronze and brass with leather.
250 cm long for 145 cm high and 61 cm deep, this piece had been designed in 2002. This posthumous example is number 7/8 by Bocquel, dated 2017, in gilt patinated bronze and brass with leather.
