François-Xavier Lalanne

Of François-Xavier Lalanne’s diverse and enchanted menagerie, the sheep is among his most iconic subjects of choice. Introduced with the original Mouton de Laine, conceived in 1965, François-Xavier explored different iterations of the motif throughout his career. At the Salon de la Jeune Peinture of 1966, François-Xavier first presented an ensemble of 24 moutons: 23 white wool sheep and one black sheep that straddled the line between sculpture and functional bench. Heralded as a success in the French press, Francois-Xavier will continue throughout his career to design inventive pieces that most often took the form of wild animals turned cabinets, secretaires, rugs, lamps and chairs, amongst others.  

The present lots— comprising an Agneau (lot 307), a Bélier (lot 308) and a Mouton Transhumant (lot 309)– come together to form a full family. The Bélier, French for ram, is the most imposing of the three, erect with a wide stance and arched horns. The nomadic sheep, or Mouton Transhumant, is slightly smaller, but stands confident and engaged. The little lamb, known as the Agneau, presents with perky ears and an uplifting smile. The group functions as a harmonious unit, each made with epoxy stone and patinated bronze. Facial features and feet are carved into a contrasting surface that has earned a rich patina with time. The pieces can be exhibited both outdoors or indoors—equally as works of sculpture or as functional seating elements.

The sheep depicted here are representative of François-Xavier’s animalier oeuvre: playful subject matters that come to life naturally through sleek lines and harmonious proportions. Legend has it that his penchant for the bestiary world may have come from his childhood, as he grew up near a zoo in Agen, France. Or that perhaps he was inspired by a stint at the Louvre, where he worked as a guard in the Egyptian and Assyrian wings and meticulously studied exotic creatures like the Lamassu. Regardless of folklore, François-Xavier’s artistic career, one that initially began with painting and evolved into furniture-making and sculpture, is founded upon his inventive use of the animal kingdom. Often using puns or jeux de mots as a starting point for his clever designs, he was methodical and exacting in both his preparation and execution. When François-Xavier very aptly said, “art is like life – it shouldn’t be so serious,” he was undoubtedly speaking for his work as well, of which the present moutons are a quintessential example.