The furnishings, sculpture, objects and jewellery designed by the husband and wife team, popularly known today as Les Lalanne, have become must-haves in the design collecting world with their rarest creations making seven-figure prices at auction.
The couple married in 1967 and moved that year to a house and studio near Fontainebleau, where they worked together for 50 years, producing a range of often quirky pieces inspired by the plant and animal kingdom. Yves Saint-Laurent was an early fan of their work.
François-Xavier died in 2008. After his death Claude went on producing work and passed away in April this year. The 280-plus works to be offered at auction were chosen by Claude’s family and come from the Lalannes’ home and studio.
At the heart of the auction are pieces created by the couple but it also features works by many of the other artists and designers with whom the Lalannes were friends, such as Niki de Saint Phalle, Jean Tinguely and Max Ernst.
The auction takes place in Paris on October 23-24 with pre-sale exhibitions from the collection to be staged in New York, London and Hong Kong as well as in Paris.
