Claude Lalanne

Paul Kasmin Gallery, New York
Acquired from the above by the present owner

Les Lalanne, exh. cat., Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, June 15 - July 13, 1975, p. 69
Robert Rosenblum, Les Lalanne, Geneva, 1991, p. 82

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, a chair, a mirror. By making utility an integral element of her designs, she encourages us to approach and touch, bringing us in contact with the fantastic.

The present "Hosta" chair captures Claude Lalanne’s unique aesthetic. It is surrealist in its vegetal motif, yet possesses a classical sensibility in its traditional scale, striking a careful balance between fantasy, familiarity, and opulence. Lalanne made a small number of these chairs, each combining gilt patinated bronze and galvanized copper surfaces in unique configurations. 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 piece.