On the occasion of the second edition of Design Miami Paris, Galerie Mitterrand is pleased to present a selection of design pieces by Claude and François-Xavier Lalanne, including a unique set of dining room furniture comprising an oval table and a suite of six chairs. This exhibition will be extended in the gardens by a family of sheep, the iconic work of François-Xavier Lalanne.
The dining room furniture was commissioned by Olivier de la Baume, director of the Maison du Café, in 1965. Claude Lalanne made six Grain de Café chairs to go with a desk and an articulated table designed by François-Xavier Lalanne. In 1967, the Mobilier National commissioned Claude and François-Xavier Lalanne to produce a variation of this model for Oxford House of Culture, which was exhibited at the retrospective Les Lalanne - de la sculpture aux Arts Décoratifs at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris.
The table is a unique piece, made in the artists' studio in Ury, with a thick Carrara marble top resting on a construction of steel rings. The chairs are similarly structured, with thin curved steel slats holding shaped metal plates for the seat and back.
Sheep are one of the most emblematic works in François-Xavier Lalanne's bestiary. The artist created several versions, exploring different techniques. The first Moutons de laine appeared in 1965, while the first stone version did not appear until 1979. The Moutons transhumants appeared in 1988, followed by the Nouveaux Moutons series in 1994. The set presented at Design Miami/Paris comprises a Mouton de pierre, an Agneau and a Bélier.
These exceptional works will be accompanied by other pieces by the couple, including a Rhinoceros Screen, a Pair of Candélabres and a Tapis Grand Troupeau.
