'Crocodile' Settee, 2013

The crocodile motif is a common theme in Claude Lalanne's body of work. It presents itself repeatedly throughout her years as a designer in the form of chaises, banquettes, and settees. First seen in 1972, Claude's crocodile designs were made possible thanks to the director of a zoo in Paris that gifted her a specimen after it died of natural causes. The director was first introduced to Claude by friend and fellow artist Niki de Saint Phalle (1930-2002). One of the design's highlights is the copper animals' lifelike quality. The delicate and detailed nature of Claude's pieces is due to an electroplating technique that transforms molds and organic material, often plants and animals found near her home in Ury, France, into galvanized copper. During this process, flora and fauna are submerged in a copper sulphate bath and fused with a thin metal layer. The resulting texture and detail project an air of realism not readily found in metalwork. Similar examples were displayed in the Palace of Versailles in 2021 as part of a retrospective of the artist's works curated by Galerie Mitterrand. Situated within the palace architecture surrounded by gilded reliefs of animals, opulent wall coverings, and grand French windows looking out onto the Trianon gardens, the crocodile concept looked as though it had always been there. However, they also appeared well suited when placed among the modest furnishings of Claude's own home or amongst the contemporary decor of her clients' living rooms—a testament to the timeless themes of her designs.