Claude Lalanne

Commissioned directly from from the artist in 2003 by the present owner

For a related model:

John Russell, Les Lalanne, Paris, 1975, p. 9

Daniel Marchesseau, Les Lalanne, Paris, 1998, p. 74

Daniel Abadie, Lalanne(s), Paris, 2008, pp. 75-76

Les Lalanne, exhibition catalogue, Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, 2010, p. 119

Paul Kasmin, Claude & François-Xavier Lalanne Art, Work, Life, New York, 2012, n.p.

Claude & François-Xavier Lalanne, exhibition catalogue, JGM Galerie, Paris, 2013, p. 77

Adrian Dannatt, François-Xavier & Claude Lalanne: In the Domain of Dreams, New York, 2018, p. 61

The enduring popularity of Claude Lalanne’s Choupatte in its varying forms makes this extraordinary form one of her most iconic and beloved creations. The surreal and whimsical fusion of two poultry legs (pattes) with a luscious cabbage (chou) exemplifies her distinctive blend of the natural and the fantastical.

This curious hybrid, equal parts botanical and bestial, stands as a quintessential example of Lalanne’s playful, poetic vision. The cabbage, a recurring motif throughout her work, encapsulates her humoristic sensibility and her enduring interest in the surreal. As François-Xavier Lalanne once remarked, “The cabbage leaf is to Claude what the acanthus leaf is to ancient Greek art,” highlighting her deep aesthetic and symbolic attachment to the form. Through her transformation of floral and vegetal subjects, Claude Lalanne left an indelible mark on the artistic landscape of her time.

Choupattes resonate powerfully with our collective subconscious, evoking mythologies, fairy tales, and centuries of French folklore. In popular French culture, the cabbage is a vessel of symbolic meaning: baby boys are said to be born in cabbages, and a feuille de chou (“cabbage leaf”) comically refers to a low-quality newspaper. With such rich cultural connotations, the cabbage became an ideal subject for Lalanne’s imaginative world—appearing in works like L’Homme Chou (“Cabbage Man”) and Lapin Chou (“Cabbage Rabbit”).

By adding bird legs to the cabbage, Lalanne elevated the metaphor to a realm of mythical allegory. Echoing the hybrid beings of antiquity—the Minotaur, the Sphinx, the Egyptian gods—her Choupattes join a long tradition of polymorphic creatures. Yet in true Lalanne fashion, her creation eschews menace or monstrosity; instead, it is entirely disarming, even endearing. With exquisitely sculpted poultry legs and intricately detailed cabbage leaves, the Choupatte embodies a surprising harmony between its dual identities—animal and vegetable, surreal and serene.

Pauline Karpidas shared a particular affinity for this form, owning not just one but two Choupattes: a small version (the present lot), and the monumental Très Grand Choupatte—both commissioned directly from the artist. The dramatic difference in scale between the two works highlights the dual nature of Lalanne’s art: at once intimate and theatrical, grounded, and fantastical. Their inclusion in Karpidas’ collection speaks to a longstanding, personal connection with Lalanne’s vision—one rooted in shared imagination, humor, and a sensitivity to the poetic possibilities of form.

Whether encountered in a private garden or in the artist’s studio in Ury, the Choupatte continues to enchant. It stands not only as a testament to Claude Lalanne’s singular creative voice but also as a symbol of transformation, whimsy, and the enduring magic of the unexpected.