Happy Monday, all.
If you missed last week’s post, we mapped out the ultimate art library—everything from quick reads to coffee table centrepieces.
In the days since, a moment of design history unfolded when Claude Lalanne knocked her husband, François-Xavier Lalanne, off the top spot to set a new benchmark for the most expensive design object ever sold at auction.
François-Xavier’s name might already be familiar to some. You may know him for his whimsical sheep sculptures or his sculpture-come-bar Hippopotame Bar, which sold for $31.4 million at Sotheby’s, New York, last December, securing its place at the top of the market. Until now.
Claude, though often spoken about in tandem with her husband, has long operated in her own distinct lane. Working primarily in bronze, she transformed the natural world into beautifully detailed objects, such as dragonfly mirrors, surrealist decorative pieces and even handbags.
Her practice came into the spotlight last week when a suite of 15 gilt-bronze mirrors, originally commissioned by Yves Saint Laurent, sold for $33.5 million at Sotheby’s, surpassing her husband’s previous record and setting a new benchmark for design at auction.
The couple’s market is fizzing right now as design continues to blur into blue-chip territory and while these record-breaking sales might feel like a sudden moment of recognition, the reality is that Les Lalanne (the name they were collectively known as) have been at the forefront of this shift for years, building a dreamlike universe where flora, flock 🐑 and the natural world are transformed into works that are uniquely functional and sculptural.
Today, we’re going back to the beginning to look at how the couple met, in what ways their partnership shaped their individual practices, and why, decades on, they’re still dominating the design market.
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