François-Xavier Lalanne

comprising one sheep and three ottomans

For the sheep:
Demisch Danant, New York
For the ottomans:
Alexandre Iolas Gallery, New York
Bill Copley, New York
Christie’s New York, November 10, 1993, lot 126
Private Collection
Christie’s Paris, December 12, 2005, lot 34

Les Lalanne, exh. cat., Centre Pompidou, Paris, 1975, p. 10 (for the sheep and ottomans)
Daniel Marchesseau, Les Lalanne, Paris, 1998, pp. 33 and 36 (for the sheep and ottomans) and 58-59 (for the sheep)
Reed Krakoff, Ben Brown and Paul Kasmin, Claude & François-Xavier Lalanne, exh. cat., Paul Kasmin Gallery, New York and Ben Brown Fine Arts, London, 2006, frontis (for the sheep and ottomans) and p. 90 (for the present lot illustrated)
Daniel Abadie, Lalanne(s), Paris, 2008, pp. 192-193 (for the sheep), 299, 303 and 305 (for the sheep and ottomans)
Les Lalanne, exh. cat., Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, 2010, pp. 40-41 (for the sheep and ottomans)
Paul Kasmin, Claude & François-Xavier Lalanne, New York, 2012, n.p. (for the sheep)
Les Lalanne: Fifty Years of Work, 1964-2015, exh. cat., Paul Kasmin Gallery, New York, 2015, pp. 30, 50, 83 and 137 (for the sheep and ottomans)
Delphine and Reed Krakoff, Houses That We Dreamt Of: The Interiors of Delphine and Reed Krakoff, New York, 2017, p. 12, 14-15, 46, 85-86, 115, 193 and 202 (for the present lot illustrated)

Overall very good condition. Each mouton retains its original wool, which presents with some slight darkening due to the natural aging of the material, some occasional areas of minor matting, and some occasional scattered stray fibers, all consistent with age and gentle use. The full mouton with some minor traces of dried adhesive residue within the wool surrounding the face, consistent with age, and with some of the wool very gently pulling away from the bronze face, stable. The bronze surfaces on all four moutons have been recently professionally cleaned and lightly waxed. The mouton face presents with some extremely minor surface irregularities and minute casting flaws inherent in the making and not visually detractive. The legs of all four moutons present with some scattered minor surface scratches, abrasions and occasional scattered extremely minor discolorations and traces of white house paint, all consistent with age and gentle use and not visually detractive. One ottoman with very slightly more pronounced darkening to the wool on the proper left side of its body. The same ottoman with a very faint vertical scuff on the outer surface of its proper left front leg measuring approximately 3 inches located above the foot and extending over the ankle. The same leg with a very small discoloration located at approximately mid-height measuring approximately 1/2 inch in diameter, not visually detractive. The second ottoman with a small faint horizontal scuff to the proper right back leg located approximately 3 inches above the foot and measuring approximately 1/2 inch wide. The proper right front leg with a thin vertical linear discoloration measuring approximately 4 inches extending from the top of the leg downward on the interior surface, not visually detractive. Each mouton is on casters; the full mouton is lacking two of its caster wheels. Each mouton is marked on its black painted wood underside. An exemplary early flock comprising both of Lalanne’s iconic wooly mouton forms that retain their original wool.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.