PARIS.- On May 21st, 2026, Artcurial will present a selection of works by the legendary artistic duo Claude and François-Xavier Lalanne, as part of its Art Deco / Design auction. Their poetic and dreamlike universe remains one of the most singular expressions of 20th-century design.

Among the highlights, the sale features a rare Singe attentif II by François-Xavier Lalanne, alongside a remarkable ensemble of lighting pieces by Claude Lalanne from the same private collection.

A Lalanne Masterpiece: Singe Attentif II

A defining highlight of the Art Deco / Design auction, Singe attentif II (1999) epitomizes François-Xavier Lalanne’s sculptural universe, where the animal kingdom becomes both language and metaphor.

Cast in bronze with a green patina, monogrammed and numbered EA 1/4 A, the sculpture presents a contemplative monkey, suspended between observation and introspection. It distills the wit, intelligence, and quiet surrealism that define the Lalannes’ aesthetic vocabulary. The singularity of this sculpture also stems from the way it occupies space, as it is not designed to rest on a flat surface but to be integrated into a setting yet to be defined (a fireplace, a table, a pedestal), offering great freedom to its owner and reflecting the boundless imagination of its creator, who breaks away from any conventional framework.

With a strong provenance (Galerie Jean-Gabriel Mitterrand, then a private French collection), this sculpture reflects Lalanne’s lifelong exploration of the animal as a total sculptural form, at the crossroads of art, design, and symbolism.

Rare on the market, Singe Attentif II is among the most important works offered this season, with an estimate of €600,000–800,000.

Claude Lalanne’s Lighting Works

The sale also presents a remarkable group of artworks by Claude Lalanne, led by an exceptional Chandelier with Butterflies. Conceived as a vegetal structure with eight light sources, this unique work exemplifies her virtuosity in transforming nature into ornamental architecture.

Two further pairs of wall lights, ‘Vegetal Structure’, complete this luminous ensemble. Deeply rooted in Claude Lalanne’s organic imagination, they reflect her unique ability to elevate botanical forms into sculptural and functional poetry.

Similar lighting pieces can be found in the most prestigious collections (Zeineb and Jean-Pierre Marcie-Rivière, Hubert de Givenchy, Jacques Grange, Daniel Marchesseau, and the artists’ own private collection).

Lapin Chou I

Finally, Lapin Chou I by Claude Lalanne, of intimate scale yet with a strong presence, reflects her playful sensibility, uniting humour, nature and delicacy in a single sculptural form.