François-Xavier Lalanne's Auction Record Jumps 62% With $31.4m Sale

François-Xavier Lalanne, Hippopotame Bar, pièce unique (1976) sold for $31.43m, more than four times the low estimate at Sotheby's New York on December 10. The copper, maillechort, stainless steel, brass, painted wood work has been traded once in the past.

In the summer of 1964 Jeanine de Goldschmidt’s Galerie in Paris presented the painter-turned-sculptor François-Xavier Lalanne's first major sculpture in a joint exhibition with his wife Claude Lalanne, who specialized in plant-inspired objects.

The artist created Rhinocrétaire, an illuminated desk, bar and a safe as well as sculpture, which became his signature work. His rhino-shaped work was followed by a menagerie of animal-themed functional sculptures, including sheep-stools and chairs and rabbit-shaped lamps.

The hippo-bar is a unique piece formerly owned by Anne Schlumberger (1905–1993), a French philanthropist and patron of the arts. She was member of the Schlumberger family whose wealth was built on the oilfield services company of the same name.

The hippo-bar beat the Lallane's previous auction record by $12.03m, a 62% rise. His previous record was set by RHINOCRÉTAIRE I (1964), which sold for $19.4m at Christie's on October 20, 2023.

A brief history of Lalanne at auction