François-Xavier Lalanne’s Hippopotame Bar soars to $31.4 Million at Sotheby’s
François-Xavier Lalanne’s Hippopotame Bar achieved a groundbreaking $31.4 million (est. $7-10 million), establishing the highest price ever for the artist at auction and the highest price ever achieved for a work of design at auction, climbing over three times its high estimate.
A spirited 26-minute bidding battle, driven by competition among 7 bidders, highlighted the exceptional global demand for Lalanne’s functional animal sculptures and cemented the Hippopotame Bar as a singular masterpiece.
Commissioned in 1976 by Anne Schlumberger, a devoted early patron, the Hippopotame Bar, pièce unique represents one of Lalanne’s earliest explorations of a form that would become central to his oeuvre. Crafted in hand-wrought copper, maillechort, stainless steel, brass, and painted wood, it is the first and only Hippopotame Bar executed in copper.
The bar is clad in a richly layered russet, red, and black patina, demonstrating Lalanne’s mastery of line, form, and geometric design. Hidden compartments reveal a revolving bottle rack, ice bucket, hors-d’oeuvre tray, and glassware storage, combining mechanical ingenuity with playful elegance. Two original design drawings from the Schlumberger archive illuminate the translation of sketches into this sculptural, functional creation.
The Schlumberger Collection is not only a portrait of a remarkable patron but also a lens on the broader growth story of Les Lalanne. Works by Les Lalannes from the visionary collector Pauline Karpidas ignited international bidding wars, realizing nearly $18.5 million – with several pieces soaring as high as fifteen times their estimates at Sotheby's London in September. Against this backdrop of extraordinary momentum, the Lalanne works from The Schlumberger Collection – from the monumental and unique Hippopotame Bar to the lyrical “Anémone” Balustrade Elements (sold for $431,800; est. $80,000 - $120,000) – trace the artists’ journey from early commissions to enduring icons of design history.
As a prototype for later bronze editions, the Hippopotame Bar, pièce unique, marks the pinnacle of Lalanne’s collaboration with one of his most important patrons. This landmark sale underscores Sotheby’s global leadership in offering the most coveted works by François-Xavier Lalanne and celebrates the continuing resonance of his visionary fusion of art, design, and imagination.