“Lalanne-a-mania”

Check out this post about the recent fervor surrounding works by Lalanne on From Rus With Love a blog written by Mayer Rus, the LA Times’ Design & Culture Editor.

LAMA Brings World Record Price for Lalanne Monkeys

Los Angeles Modern Auctions (LAMA) announces Francois-Xavier Lalanne Singes Attentifs SI & SII, sold for a record price of $199,062.50 (est. $100,000 – 125,000) and was the top lot in the May 23, 2010 Modern Art & Design Auction.

For more on the monkeys check out Peter’s interview with the LATimes here!

Recap: May 23, 2010 Modern Art & Design Auction

Bringing together a selection of top quality material is a journey in itself, but actually seeing those items go up on the auction block for twenty seconds and find new homes is a whole other story.

The May 23, 2010 Modern Art & Design auction brought together a large assortment of 20th century material, each with a distinction, but all sharing one common theme: MODERN. Modern showed up in the forms of fine art, furniture, design, and decorative arts, ranging from Mid-Century, Early 20th century, California, Danish, and French design, to Contemporary, which made up the largest portion of the auction.

LAMA Showroom full of people for the May 23, 2010 auction

All the Warhols offered found buyers with a total realizing $216,518.75. Four pieces that stood out as surprises were the Francois-Xavier Lalanne Monkeys, doubling the low estimate of $100,000, realizing $199,062.50. Three other interesting lots that far exceeded their expectations were: Pipsan Saarinen Swanson Group of Outdoor Furniture realizing $14,700, Anna Katherine Skeele War Dance realizing $13,475, and Charles & Ray Eames “Hang-it-all” realizing $8,575.

The room was full of people, including Francois-Xavier Lalanne’s daughter, who was ecstatic to see her father’s pieces sell so successfully.

Francois-Xavier Lalanne's daughter holding up one of the monkeys

Overall the sale was a success, and we are thrilled with the results. To see the results, please click here. The online catalogue lists pieces that are unsold, which are still available for purchase (please call or email Shannon at 323-904-1950 or shannon@lamodern.com to make an offer).

Peter’s Auction Picks of the Day: May 22nd

Peter gets wild and takes a look at the playful side of modernism!

After a serious few weeks of planning and hosting the preview, I had a moment to walk around with a future client of LAMA.  I say future, as this client is only 12.

As kids often do, she was quick to point out something that had not noticed before.  After spending about 30 minutes here, she counted up all of the animals we have in the auction – in paintings, sculpture, and furniture.

Here are some that we both liked and appreciated:

Lot 77 Damien Hirst, Butterflies (6), 2008, $18,000 - 25,000

Lot 78 Francois-Xavier Lalanne, Rhinoceros Bleu, 1981, $25,000 - 35,000

Lot 79 Francois-Xavier Lalanne, Singes Attentifs SI & SII, 1999, $100,000 - 125,000

Lot 164 Gambone, Bull, circa 1965, $800 - 1,200

Lot 333 Rufino Tamayo, Demi-Poisson (Half Fish), 1969, $2,000 - 3,000

Lot 102 David Hockney, No. #4 (From Dog Wall), 1998, $5,000 - 7,000

For more depictions of animals, check out the online catalogue.

Don’t forget, the auction is tomorrow and starts at 12pm Noon (Pacific)!

Just In: François-Xavier Lalanne “Rhinoceros Bleu” executed 1981

Yesterday we were greeted with a large crate, which when we opened it, we were pleasantly surprised to see the Francois-Xavier Lalanne “Rhinoceros Bleu” executed 1981 that we have been anxiously expecting. This sculpture is numbered 83/150 on a plaque on the underside, the medium is blue enameled metal, and it measures 23.5 x 14 x 57.2 cm.  The estimate is $25,000 – 35,000. This is not the first Lalanne sculpture we have represented; in the December 2008 Linda Sullivan Estate Sale we sold a pair of Francois-Xavier and Claude Lalanne bronze and concrete sheep. This pair of Lalanne Sheep realized $84,000.  In addition to the “Rhinoceros Bleu” we will also be offering in the Spring 2010 Auction a pair of bronze monkeys titled “Singes Attentifs SI And SII” executed 1999.

Francois-Xavier Lalanne sculpture "Rhinoceros Bleu" executed 1981, Estimate $25,000 - 35,000, To offered in Spring 2010 Auction

Francois-Xavier Lalanne sculpture "Rhinoceros Bleu" signature, date and edition

Francois-Xavier and Claude Lalanne Pair of Sheep, Realized $84,000, December 2008 Sullivan Estate Sale