Live Auction 2009Important 20th Century Decorative Art & Design
FRANÇOIS-XAVIER LALANNE (b. 1927)
Lot 218 PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE FOUNDATION

FRANÇOIS-XAVIER LALANNE (b. 1927)

'RHINOCÉROS MÉCANIQUE' A PATINATED COPPER SCULPTURE, 1976

Closed13 June 2008

Price Realised

USD 98,500

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FRANÇOIS-XAVIER LALANNE (b. 1927)
'Rhinocéros Mécanique' A Patinated Copper Sculpture, 1976
with hinged flaps opening to reveal compartments, from an edition of 8 plus 4 artist's proofs plus the present example
9¾ in. (24.8 cm.) high, 21½ in. (54.5 cm.) wide, 5 1/8 in. (13 cm.) deep
stamped 00/00 FXL Lalanne 88

Pierre and Maria Gaetana Matisse, New York (acquired from the artist). Acquired from the above by the present owner.

Specialist note

For their first exhibition in June 1964 at the Parisian Galerie J, the Lalanne's showed only one piece - a large sculpture of a rhinoceros which converted into a writing desk. François-Xavier Lalanne explained about this sculpture: "The Annam rhino, the one with a single horn, has a skin so tough that it forms huge scales. Morphologically speaking, these plates are easy to separate one from the other. They open up like a suit of armor."
The present rhinoceros is a smaller version inspired by the original 'Rhino-crétaire'.

cf. D. Marchesseau, The Lalannes, Paris, 1998, pp. 22-23.

The Rhino-crétaire II photographed in 1966.
The Rhino-crétaire II photographed in open position.