S culpture by Design: Rateau | Giacometti | Les Lalanne is a celebration of the work of five legendary 20th century artists from three distinct generations: Armand-Albert Rateau, Diego & Alberto Giacometti and Claude & François-Xavier Lalanne. This curated sale concept, transcending a merely comparative exercise, invites collectors and design connoisseurs to recognize and appreciate the shared poetic, modern and lyrical sensibilities of these iconic artists vis-à-vis their respective craft. Brought together for the first time in an auction context, these five artists exemplify a standard of quality and quest for experimentation that makes their work outgrow the traditional boundaries between Sculpture and Design.
Despite their obvious differences in artistic approach and expression, the extraordinary work produced by these five artists share a common timelessness and modern quality that makes them as relevant and important today as they were decades ago. Somewhere between figuration and abstraction, artistry and functionalism, the superb pieces presented in the auction provide a glimpse into their unique world and vision, which ever so elegantly continue to stand the test of time; they also represent some of the most iconic and important forms and commissions created throughout their prolific careers. By creating an art historical narrative spanning three generations and which emphasizes these artists’ aesthetic and thematic connections, the sale chronicles the very evolution of 20th century European design.
