Lot Essay
'What moves me about her work is her ability to unite, in the same high standards, craft and creativity. Her fine sculptor's hands seem to draw aside the mists of mystery in order to reach the shores of art'.
– Yves Saint Laurent
Claude Lalanne is known for her surreal decorative sculptures that present the viewer with a sense of play and whimsy. She integrated nature and the animal kingdom by way of techniques including electroplating and traditional casting. Claude Lalanne and her husband, François-Xavier Lalanne, were co-creators, rather than true collaborators. They rarely worked together on individual pieces; François-Xavier’s creations were more often inspired by the animal kingdom while Claude favored botanical subject matter. The present lot includes both botanical and animal motifs, displaying Les Lalanne's love of nature combined. Both François-Xavier and Claude Lalanne believed art should be part of the everyday, an idea that shines through in their sculptural yet functional creations.
– Yves Saint Laurent
Claude Lalanne is known for her surreal decorative sculptures that present the viewer with a sense of play and whimsy. She integrated nature and the animal kingdom by way of techniques including electroplating and traditional casting. Claude Lalanne and her husband, François-Xavier Lalanne, were co-creators, rather than true collaborators. They rarely worked together on individual pieces; François-Xavier’s creations were more often inspired by the animal kingdom while Claude favored botanical subject matter. The present lot includes both botanical and animal motifs, displaying Les Lalanne's love of nature combined. Both François-Xavier and Claude Lalanne believed art should be part of the everyday, an idea that shines through in their sculptural yet functional creations.