Claude Lalanne

Collection of Anne Schlumberger, Houston, Texas, commissioned directly from the artist

Thence by descent to the present owners

Claude Lalanne’s unique Anémone balustrade elements, commissioned directly by Anne Schlumberger, exemplify the artist’s ability to transform functional architecture into poetic ornament. Conceived as interchangeable sculptural modules, each anémone rests lightly atop a balustrade, allowing for endless configurations. Their adaptability, whether clustered closely, spaced rhythmically, or arranged in asymmetrical sequences, offers infinite possibilities for how they may enliven a stairway or landing. In this way, they become a kind of jewelry for the staircase: precious, expressive accents that elevate structure into sculpture.

The commission perfectly reflects Anne Schlumberger’s collecting philosophy, guided by intuition and an instinctive openness to the new and unfamiliar, as well as by the deep personal bond she shared with Les Lalanne. Her approach allowed her to recognize the imaginative potential in these sculptural elements, appreciating not only their beauty but also the spirit of collaboration from which they emerged.

Both sculptural and architectural, the “Anémone” balustrade elements illuminate the artist’s gift for animating everyday spaces with organic vitality and quietly signal the visionary sensibility of the woman who commissioned them.