Artwork from Les Lalanne fetches impressive sums in Sotheby's $100 million sale spearheaded by Karpidas, demonstrating a surge in demand.
In the vibrant art scene of New York, an online-only auction of Lalanne works is set to close on Friday, following a highly anticipated exhibition in October. This exhibition, organised by Di Donna Galleries and Ben Brown Fine Arts, will feature more than 50 works by René Magritte and the Lalannes.
The auction, held by Sotheby's, has seen a surge in the prices of Les Lalanne sculptures, as reported in an analysis earlier this year. The demand for their work is attributed to their unusually broad collector base and historical ties to the Surrealism movement.
One of the standout pieces was Claude Lalanne's Structure végétale mirror and wall light, which sold for $4.8 million, well above its $615,000 high estimate. Another impressive sale was the set of crocodile stools by Claude Lalanne, which fetched more than $1.3 million, surpassing its $340,000 high estimate.
In the day sale, 23 pieces of jewelry made by Claude Lalanne totaled $695,900, far exceeding their $134,000 collective high estimate. Claude Lalanne's Unique Feuilles Frame also performed exceptionally, selling for $90,100, far beyond its $20,300 high estimate.
Francois-Xavier and Claude Lalanne's works contributed nearly 20% of the evening sale's total, despite being expected to account for just over 6.5%. Four of the top 10 auction results for Francois-Xavier were recorded in 2024 alone.
The Karpidas sale, which featured 23 Surrealist works, including 11 by Rene Magritte, saw a total of $100 million, surpassing its $53 million high estimate. Sotheby's called Karpidas's collection "the greatest collection of Surrealism to emerge in recent history."
The Karpidas collection, with its focus on Surrealism, provided a fitting venue for the work of Francois-Xavier and Claude Lalanne. The couple, who lived near Constantin Brancusi in Paris, met artists associated with Surrealism, including Man Ray and Max Ernst.
François-Xavier's bronze Ganesh sold for $623,700, surpassing its $95,000 high estimate in the day sale. Another 53 works by Francois-Xavier and Claude Lalanne appeared in a Thursday day sale and an online-only auction that closes Friday.
The October exhibition, set to take place in New York, will showcase more than 50 works by Magritte and Les Lalanne, continuing the Lalanne mania that has gripped the art world. With their unique style and historical connections to Surrealism, the works of Francois-Xavier and Claude Lalanne continue to captivate collectors and art enthusiasts alike.
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