CLAUDE LALANNE | A Pair of Unique "Végétale" Mirrors

numbers 1 and 2 from an edition of 2

Commissioned directly from the artist by James Corcoran Gallery, Santa Monica, California, for the present owner, 1986

John Russell, Les Lalannes, Paris, 1975, p. 42 (for related examples)
Daniel Marchesseau, Les Lalanne, Paris, 1998, pp. 138-139 (for related examples in the Salon des Miroirs for the apartment of Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé, Paris)
Reed Krakoff, Ben Brown and Paul Kasmin, Claude & François-Xavier Lalanne, exh. cat., Paul Kasmin Gallery, New York and Ben Brown Fine Arts, London, 2006, pp. 22-23 (for related examples)
Les Lalanne, exh. cat., Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, 2010, p. 96 (for related examples)
Adrien Dannatt, Les Lalanne, Fifty Years of Work, Paul Kasmin Gallery, New York, 2015, pp. 68 (for related examples in the Salon des Miroirs for the apartment of Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé, Paris) and 184-197 (for related examples)

Overall very good condition. These extraordinary mirrors represent a unique pair that were commissioned directly from the artist in 1986. The bronze surfaces of the mirrors have recently been sensitively cleaned by a professional metalwork conservator. When viewed firsthand, the bronze displays a warm and nuanced golden palette accented by naturalistically placed rose-colored leaves. The bronze of both mirrors with occasional scattered extremely minor surface scratches, abrasions, and minor discolorations consistent with age and gentle handling, and with some occasional minor casting flaws inherent in the making and not at all visually detractive. The galvanized copper leaves are incredibly delicate, capturing all of the nuance and detail of a natural leaf. The surfaces of the leaves with a rich red undertone, which heightens the visual impact of the mirror. The leaves with some minor holes and surface irregularities inherent in the making, which further enhances the naturalism of the work. The mirrored glass with some scattered extremely minor and fine surface scratches. An incredibly dynamic pair of unique mirrors which display the romantic naturalism that is central to Claude Lalanne’s work. The mirrors are absolutely dazzling when experienced in person, presenting with dramatic scale and strong visual presence. Please feel welcome to contact the department to request installation images of these spectacular mirrors within the context of Sotheby’s preview exhibition.
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.

Sotheby's would like to thank Claude Lalanne for her assistance with the cataloguing of this lot.


The poetic designs of Claude Lalanne invite us to settle into a state of reverie and reflect on the power and beauty of the natural world.  Cast in bronze, her depictions of flora and fauna are drawn from just outside her door in the French countryside.  They retain the delicacy and nuance of living organisms despite their execution in metal—a testament to Lalanne’s impeccable skill and artistry.  Frozen in time in various stages of growth and decay, her works are imbued with romance and nostalgia.  Her creations are further enriched by their presentation in the form of familiar, everyday objects: a piece of jewelry, an armchair, a mirror.  By making utility an integral element of her designs, Lalanne encourages us to approach and touch, bringing us in contact with the fantastic.

The present pair of mirrors captures Lalanne’s unique aesthetic.  They are surrealist in their vegetal motif, yet they possess a classical sensibility in their monumental scale, striking a careful balance between fantasy, familiarity, and opulence.  Lalanne made several closely related mirrors for her friends and patrons Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé for their Salon des Miroirs at their residence, which called to mind the mirrors of Versailles.  The present mirrors are unique: each is marked with the letter “R” likely to indicate the name of her patron.  Lalanne’s husband and co-creator, François-Xavier Lalanne, once commented “Claude works the way birds sing, without really thinking about it,” an intuitive working style which is clearly represented in the delightfully naturalistic composition and charming irregularities of the present mirrors.