Claude Lalanne

Claude Lalanne’s creative process is a testament to the wonders of artistry and craftsmanship. Working alongside her husband and creative partner François-Xavier Lalanne, Claude’s inimitable works often combine elements from the plant kingdom with forms from the world of animalia and, as evidenced in the present lot, the human body. Cast or electroplated in various metals, her most successful poetic assemblages utilize elements of the female form - fingers, lips, torsos, busts, ears and feet among others. Her process was improvisational; she would work through piles of electroplated, cast and natural articles in her studio to juxtapose pieces in often surprising compositions that offered a newly discovered symbiosis. The works evoke curiosity while remaining gracious and balanced.

The present work, Buste de Capucine, embodies the sense of whim and beauty born from Claude’s organic creative process. The partial bust elicits wonder and contemplation, while the addition of an open-sided wooden box as the base creates further intrigue. François-Xavier and Claude Lalanne both worked at the intersection of art, design, sculpture and object. Their oeuvre testifies their ability to create beautiful, mystical objects - where an apple smiles back, a donkey carries a case of shelves, a vine of leafy sprigs tangle to create a sconce, and a female bust graciously rises atop an empty box to ultimately arouse wonder. The present lot offers the opportunity to acquire a superlative work that exudes the creative spirit of Claude Lalanne.