François-Xavier Lalanne's functional sculpture "Ostrich Bar" (1965) sold for €11.1 million ($12.5 million) at Sotheby's Paris on May 20, far exceeding its €3–4 million estimate after an 11-minute bidding war. The piece, one of only six ever produced, features two porcelain ostriches gripping a metal shelf with a central egg for ice cubes; it was the artist's personal favorite, kept in his bedroom for over four decades. The sale took place within Sotheby's Important Design sale curated by model Betty Catroux.
The record price underscores the enduring market demand for Les Lalanne's whimsical, functional sculptures that blur art and furniture, following François-Xavier's previous $19.4 million record at Christie's in 2023. The sale also highlights the continued institutional and collector fascination with the couple's work, which has been celebrated in recent exhibitions at the Palace of Versailles and Les Arts Décoratifs, cementing their legacy as icons of mid-century surrealist design.