"Œuvres Choisies": An Imaginary Menagerie and More

Gallery 9 of the Hôtel Drouot has been transformed into a veritable menagerie with sculptures, objets d’art, and paintings that all feature animals. Ranging from ancient to modern times and from across the globe, these pieces are complemented by the usual rich offering of modernist design,18 th -century silver and furniture, old master painting, and even prominent ‘ street artists .’ The most impressive animal form is most certainly the 1971 Large Duck ‘valet’ by Francois-Xavier Lalanne in welded, oxidized sheet metal. The fanciful work of the Lalannes is a staple of the contemporary art market, but this custom piece stands out for its size: nearly four feet in height and over six feet long. The wings and head open on to the hollow body, but despite Lalanne’s blurring of the line between art and utility, it is difficult to imagine casually tossing one’s coat into such an imposing object. Decidedly less ludic, a bronze votive statue of Bastet, scientifically dated to 664 -332 BCE, presents the goddess with all the reverence that ancient Egyptians offered their felines. Bastet was honored by…