François-Xavier LALANNE (1927-2008)
Sardine Cushion
Calfskin-wrapped polyester foam and stencil paint.
1972
Signed and dated ‘Lalanne 72 ©’ in black marker.
11⅞ x 47¼ x 8⅝ in. (30 by 120 by 22 cm.)
Provenance: Private collection, New York.
Literature:
-John Russell, ‘Les Lalannes’, Paris, 1975, p. 79 (other ex. illustrated)
-Robert Rosenblum, ‘Les Lalanne’, Geneva, 1991, p. 107 (other ex. illustrated)
-Daniel Marchesseau, ‘Les Lalanne’, Paris, 1998, p. 41 (other ex. illustrated)
-Daniel Abadie, ‘Lalanne(s)’, Paris, 2008, pp. 226-227, 310 (other ex. illustrated)
-‘Les Lalanne’, exhibition catalogue, Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, 2010, pp. 78-79 (other ex. illustrated)
-‘Lalanne’, exhibition catalogue, JGM Galerie, Paris, 2013, p. 74 (other ex. illustrated)
-Adrian Dannatt, ‘François-Xavier and Claude Lalanne: In the Domain of Dreams’, New York, 2018, p. 268 (other ex. illustrated)
-‘Claude & François-Xavier Lalanne: Nature Transformed’, exhibition catalogue, Clark Art Institute, Williamstown, 2021, p. 27 (other ex. illustrated)
ONLY A HANDFUL OF SARDINE PILLOWS WERE EVER PRODUCED BY FRANÇOIS-XAVIER LALANNE OUTSIDE THE ORIGINAL SARDINE TIN BED ENSEMBLE, MAKING THEM EXCEPTIONALLY RARE.
François-Xavier Lalanne first conceived the Sardine Pillows in 1971 when Jane Holzer (one of Andy Warhol superstars and the director of Daedalus Concepts in New York) invited him to participate in the groundbreaking exhibition “Furniture Designed by Artists” (September 7 – 23, 1972) she curated at the legendary Leo Castelli’s gallery in New York, alongside Robert Rauschenberg, Richard Chamberlain, Mark di Suvero, and Donald Judd.
“I had no idea what François-Xavier was planning to do for the exhibition. When we received the work in New York, I was totally surprised by his silver leather sardine bed. Who would have thought of making a piece of furniture from a can of sardines? That was his genius. The way this man came up with these ideas was simply incredible. And that’s what characterized him, his sense of humor and mischievousness…really surprised me.” (Jane Holzer, interviewed by Florent Jeanniard for Sotheby’s, 4 September 2023).
The New York Times chose the bed to illustrate its article “Ah, to Sleep In a Real Bed Of Fake Fish” advertising the opening on 7 September 1972.
The piece was later acquired by legendary dealer and collector Alexander Iolas. The Lalanne however retained a strong attachment to it and bought the ‘Boîte de Sardines’ back for themselves at auction in 2005.