Claude Lalanne

Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Williamsburg, VA
Sotheby's New York, December 9, 2005, lot 38
Acquired from the above by the present owner

Overall in very good original condition. The works executed for the Gardens at Colonial Williamsburg were used around an outdoor garden and therefore the patination shows minor exposure to the elements throughout. This pair of chairs displays a beautiful original blue green patina. Each of the chairs with minor irregularities in the finish which are inherent in the making. The two chairs on offer in this lot were paired in the original offering in 2005 because of the similarities in the color of the patina, and remain similar in tone today. With some scattered surface dirt and rubbing to the patina, consistent with age, use and exposure to the elements. One of the armchairs with a break to one of the welds of the seat and a prior repair with on the leaves along the backrest. The other chair with a break to a weld to the back proper right leg to the support which extends to the proper left backrest. These areas would benefit from stabilization by a professional metal restorer. The armchair design for this commission incorporates a local bird and demonstrates the deeply sculptural and site specific details of the commission executed by the Lalannes for the Garden at Colonial Williamsburg.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Designed in 1984 and completed in 1986, the whimsical Lila Acheson Wallace Garden at Colonial Williamsburg represents the largest commission in the United States executed by François-Xavier and Claude Lalanne.  Claude’s naturalistic chair designs evoke an elegant mixture of local and distant tranquil landscapes.  The chair backs incorporate silhouettes of cardinals, the state bird of Virginia, while the leaves that form the foundation of the chair structures are inspired by the Fontainebleau forest near the Lalannes’ home.