Sotheby’s has announced the sale of a monumental set of 15 gilt-bronze mirrors by Claude Lalanne, originally commissioned by fashion icon Yves Saint Laurent for his Paris apartment. The mirrors are the centerpiece of a 123-lot auction from the collection of Jean and Terry de Gunzburg, scheduled for April 22 at the Sotheby’s Breuer building. Estimated to fetch between $10 million and $15 million, the mirrors represent a significant appreciation in value since the de Gunzburgs acquired them for approximately $2.4 million at the historic 2009 Saint Laurent estate sale.
This auction highlights the explosive market demand for works by Les Lalanne, whose surrealist and botanical sculptures have recently achieved record-breaking prices, including a $31.4 million sale for a hippopotamus bar. The event serves as a bellwether for the high-end design market, featuring blue-chip pieces by Alexandre Noll, Jean Royère, and Alberto Giacometti. It also underscores the enduring prestige of the Yves Saint Laurent provenance, which continues to drive premium prices for 20th-century decorative arts and furniture.