This highly naturalistic “Oiseaux” suite by Claude Lalanne is an extraordinary and unique ensemble, presented at auction for the very first time. Sydell Miller commissioned the suite directly from the artist to adorn the “Lady’s Powder Room Suite” at La Rêverie, her magnificent Palm Beach home designed by Peter Marino. Upon entering the suite, guests were greeted by the two beautiful “Oiseaux et Papillon” etageres in the ante room.

The subsequent chambers had their own distinct decorative treatment enhancing the delicate beauty of their imaginative interiors. In each room, the suite comprised a large mirror, pair of sconces and chandelier- all centered around the “Oiseau” (bird) motif to create a cohesive interior. The “Oiseaux” suites were later installed in different configurations in the “Ladies Powder Room” and “Men’s Room” in Sydell Miller’s residence at The Bristol in Palm Beach, reflecting how Miller’s collection seamlessly evolved with her own transitions in life.

Named after the small, charming birds perched throughout the lyrical compositions of branches, the variations seen in both the placement and posture of each bird within each work speak to the artist’s mastery and faithfulness to capturing her naturalistic subjects. Ornamental birds are rarely seen on these same forms within Lalanne’s oeuvre. Rather, the artist’s mirrors and lighting more commonly feature a limited variety of leaves and flowering branches. Here, we see the leaves and foliage presented with exquisite tactility and texture, further elevating the artistry of the suite.

With marvelous ingenuity, Claude Lalanne animated vernacular domestic items into unique works of art by invoking the playful magnetism of the natural world. The present suite, created with a fantastical yet precisely detailed composition of topiary charm, is a true manifestation of Lalanne’s design practice. The sensitivity of composition illustrated in each of the works, as well as the artist’s skillful use of texture to accentuate her flora subjects, is a testament to her adept craftsmanship as a sculptor and her great passion for the natural world. The present “Oiseaux” suite presents a rare opportunity to the collecting community to acquire a large ensemble of uniquely commissioned works by the artist.