On December 11, 2025, Sotheby's "Important Design – The Schlumberger Collection" auction saw François-Xavier Lalanne's 1976 exclusive work, "Hippopotame Bar, Pièce Unique," attract widespread attention. Initially estimated at $7 million to $10 million, the piece ultimately hammered down at $26.8 million, reaching a final price of $31.43 million (approximately 220 million RMB) including commission. This not only broke his personal auction record but also reaffirmed the Lalannes' benchmark status in the world of top-tier design collecting.

François Xavier Lérin was a key figure in 20th-century French sculpture and design.He and his wife, Claude Lalanne, known as the "Les Lalannes," have long been iconic figures in the world of top interior design and collecting.The two artists had different focuses in their creative work; Claude preferred to draw inspiration from plants, while François focused on transforming animal images into works of art.He believes in the philosophy that "art is life".He excels at blending natural forms with practical functions, using metals such as bronze and stainless steel, along with wood, to create sculptures that are not merely display pieces but can be integrated into everyday home decor.This unique creative style is deeply loved by fashion legends such as Yves Saint Laurent and Coco Chanel, as well as top collectors.

"Hippo Bar," a representative work of François's animal-themed creations, vividly embodies this creative philosophy. This unique piece, created in 1976, is crafted from various materials including copper, white brass, stainless steel, brass, and painted wood. Measuring 105×190×68 cm (41.5×74.75×26.25 inches), it possesses a solid yet not bulky form. The surface is clearly stamped with "FXL / 76 / URY," indicating the creator, year of creation, and unique serial number, thus ensuring the rarity of this one-of-a-kind work.

The provenance of this work is very clear.In 1977, Anne Schlumberger, a member of the Schlumberger family in Houston, Texas, commissioned it directly from François, and it was passed down through generations of the family until this auction.Even more remarkably, the auction also includes commission documents preserved by the Schlumberger family, including copies of the original commission documents and two design sketches hand-drawn by François himself—one an ink pastel on paper and the other a paper ink pastel, both framed works measuring 30.5 x 45.7 cm (12 x 18 inches). These materials fully reconstruct the entire process from conception to commissioning, providing invaluable first-hand information for understanding this work and further enriching its historical significance.

From an artistic perspective, "Hippo Bar Counter" is a prime example of François Leland's fusion of nature and practicality. Using the hippopotamus as a model, he skillfully transforms its sturdy form into a bar counter that is both aesthetically pleasing and functional, thanks to his precise understanding of materials and meticulous craftsmanship. The interplay of the coolness of metal and the warmth of painted wood not only recreates the texture of the hippopotamus's skin but also evokes a sense of industrial sophistication. The well-proportioned size and functional layout allow the sculpture to seamlessly fulfill its bar function, naturally integrating art into everyday life. This style has made Leland's works highly sought after by collectors, becoming a classic symbol in the fields of interior design and art collecting.

The artistic value of this work has long been recognized in the industry. Numerous authoritative works have included and introduced subsequent bronze versions, such as Daniel Marchesseau's *Les Lalannes* (1998), Daniel Abadie's *Lalanne(s)* (2008), and several exhibition catalogs published by the Kasmin Gallery. These academic records not only confirm the importance of this series of works in François's artistic career but also provide strong academic support for the value of this unique edition.

The final price of $31.43 million far exceeded the estimated range of $7 million to $10 million, and also broke François' previous personal auction record.On October 20, 2023, his work "Rhinoceros No. 1" sold for €18.335 million at Christie's Paris auction.This result not only highlights the quality of the Schlumberger collection but also confirms the global collectors' market's recognition of François Xavier Lérin's work—these design treasures, which combine artistic creativity with exquisite craftsmanship, have always possessed strong market appeal, further solidifying François Xavier Lérin's position in the history of contemporary design art.
 

About the artist

A French sculptor and installation artist, born in Argen, he excels at combining animal imagery with his artworks. His works exhibit characteristics of surrealism, classical, contemporary, fine art, decorative arts, and applied design, while also being rich in whimsical and imaginative strokes. His style is bold and unrestrained, infusing the spaces in which they reside with boundless vitality.

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