ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Christie's to auction $3.5m Lalanne 'Grenouille' fountains at New York design sale

market-auction · 2026-05-29

Christie's will hold a Design live auction on 10 June at Rockefeller Center in New York. The sale features works by Harry Bertoia, William Morris, Pierre Legrain, Charlotte Perriand, Jean Prouvé, and Joaquim Tenreiro. The top lot is François-Xavier Lalanne's 'An Important Set of Four 'Grenouille' Fountains' (1981) from the Collection of Alexandra Marshall, estimated at $2.5–3.5 million. Marshall directly commissioned the piece from Lalanne, leading to a lifelong friendship. The sale also includes Defined Space: The Collection of Henry S. McNeil, Jr., reflecting his Minimalist engagement across fine and decorative arts.

Key facts

  • Christie's Design live auction on 10 June at Rockefeller Center, New York.
  • Leading lot: François-Xavier Lalanne's 'An Important Set of Four 'Grenouille' Fountains' (1981), estimate $2.5–3.5 million.
  • The fountains are from the Collection of Alexandra Marshall, a direct commission from the artist.
  • Other featured designers: Harry Bertoia, William Morris, Pierre Legrain, Charlotte Perriand, Jean Prouvé, Joaquim Tenreiro.
  • The sale includes Defined Space: The Collection of Henry S. McNeil, Jr., focused on Minimalism.
  • Marshall and Lalanne developed a lifelong friendship through the commission.

Entities

Artists

Institutions

Locations

  • New York
  • United States
  • Rockefeller Center

Sources