Claude & Francois-Xavier Lalanne

These unreconstructed figurative sculptors and industrial designers have shown monsters and gilded butterflies in Paris, hippopotami in Tokyo, domesticated beasts in London and an enchanted garden in Florida, but their work has rarely been seen in New York. Gallerist Paul Kasmin recently marked an upsurge in attention with a belated solo debut in New York, 50 years after the Lalannes began to collaborate and more than 40 years after their first show in Paris. This renaissance is confirmed by the first American hardcover devoted to the full range of the Lalannes' production from the 60s to the present, including sculpture, furniture, jewelry and more sculpture. It's full of photographs of pieces in situ at their home and atelier near Paris, interspersed with images of works in the Paris apartment of Yves Saint Laurent and in the homes of American collectors, including Reed Krakoff, President and Executive Creative Director of Coach, who also contributes an essay. Many of the Lalannes' biggest fans have been luminaries of fashion, including Giancarlo Giacometti of Valentino and Coco Chanel, who reputedly let wooly Lalanne moutons, full-sized model sheep, graze in her living room. With an intense cult following in circles driven by such expensive taste, perhaps it shouldn't be a surprise that Christie's set a record with a Lalanne piece as recently as 2005.