The crocodile is not only a supplier for handbags. Claude Lalanne manages to promote it to the rank of an art object with its real non-stylized forms. In 1972 she is on the watch, waiting for the death of one of the beasts in the Paris Zoo.
The event occurs. Lalanne narrated its act of transmission by the director of the zoo at midnight on moonlight. We may believe her or not about such highly romantic details. What is certain is that the corpse immediately metallized by electroplating was used in a whole range of Lalanne furniture.
Dated 1972 and made of copper, bronze and brass, Fauteuil Crocodile I is probably the prototype of these armchairs where the complete crocodile in the round is rolled halfway within the back of the chair. The seat rests on supernumerary legs. It was sold for € 1.35M including premium by Sotheby's on June 6, 2012 over a lower estimate of € 150K.
Several editions follow with slightly different positions of the animal. In 1997 a pair edited in 8 copies is composed of an armchair where the tail is placed on the seat and another where it is raised. One of these pairs is separated by Sotheby's in New York on December 13, lot 52 and lot 53 estimated $ 300K each.
Ten years later Claude Lalanne diversifies her range of bronze crocodiles, including a Crococurule stool, a bench with two crocodiles and a small bench where the complete beast is positioned as a spacer (entretoise).
The desk is made at the same time. The crocodile skin in high relief partially covers the top while head, two side legs and tail are hanging. A Bureau Croco dated 2008 was sold for € 850K including premium by Christie's on September 12, 2017 over a lower estimate of € 120K.
In the same next sale as above, Sotheby's sells as lot 54 a Bureau Crocodile 80 x 157 x 61 cm dated 2009, estimated $ 350K, possibly from the same edition of 8 as the Bureau Croco described above.
RESULTS INCLUDING PREMIUM
1997 Fauteuils SOLD for $ 980K and $ 1.15M
2009 Bureau SOLD for $ 2.17M
The event occurs. Lalanne narrated its act of transmission by the director of the zoo at midnight on moonlight. We may believe her or not about such highly romantic details. What is certain is that the corpse immediately metallized by electroplating was used in a whole range of Lalanne furniture.
Dated 1972 and made of copper, bronze and brass, Fauteuil Crocodile I is probably the prototype of these armchairs where the complete crocodile in the round is rolled halfway within the back of the chair. The seat rests on supernumerary legs. It was sold for € 1.35M including premium by Sotheby's on June 6, 2012 over a lower estimate of € 150K.
Several editions follow with slightly different positions of the animal. In 1997 a pair edited in 8 copies is composed of an armchair where the tail is placed on the seat and another where it is raised. One of these pairs is separated by Sotheby's in New York on December 13, lot 52 and lot 53 estimated $ 300K each.
Ten years later Claude Lalanne diversifies her range of bronze crocodiles, including a Crococurule stool, a bench with two crocodiles and a small bench where the complete beast is positioned as a spacer (entretoise).
The desk is made at the same time. The crocodile skin in high relief partially covers the top while head, two side legs and tail are hanging. A Bureau Croco dated 2008 was sold for € 850K including premium by Christie's on September 12, 2017 over a lower estimate of € 120K.
In the same next sale as above, Sotheby's sells as lot 54 a Bureau Crocodile 80 x 157 x 61 cm dated 2009, estimated $ 350K, possibly from the same edition of 8 as the Bureau Croco described above.
RESULTS INCLUDING PREMIUM
1997 Fauteuils SOLD for $ 980K and $ 1.15M
2009 Bureau SOLD for $ 2.17M
Why Claude Lalanne’s #Crocodile Series Is So Realistic https://t.co/QTqKIWAF0E #design #lalanne pic.twitter.com/ZAgjRtj0nv
— Sotheby's France (@SothebysFr) December 9, 2017
#AuctionUpdate The third time is a charm for Claude Lalanne – this "Bureau Crocodile" desk soars over it's $500k high estimate to achieve $2.2 million #SothebysDesign pic.twitter.com/yeiMGrq13P
— Sotheby's (@Sothebys) December 13, 2017
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