Claude Lalanne’s Miroir Feuilles Hosta, created in 2009, epitomises her extraordinary ability to harmonise functionality with artistic beauty. The present work is an impressively large piece, its sweeping, sculpted leaves commanding attention with their striking scale and presence, making it one of her most monumental and ambitious furniture creations. A celebrated design in her oeuvre, the ‘Hosta’ mirrors were particularly cherished by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé, who adorned the walls of their Parisian apartment with them, evoking an enchanting parallel to the opulence of the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles. Drawing deeply from the natural world, Lalanne’s work is a testament to her fascination with botany and the organic forms surrounding her home in Ury, France. Employing the electroplating technique – a process that transforms molds and organic materials into galvanised copper – she captured the intricate textures and lifelike details of leaves and flora with unparalleled precision.

Lalanne’s designs blur the lines between the surreal and the naturalistic, inspired by both Surrealism and Art Nouveau. Her Miroir Feuilles Hosta transforms the familiar contours of hosta leaves into an exquisite sculptural object, blending natural realism with a sense of dreamlike wonder. The result is a piece that transcends mere functionality, embodying both the delicacy of nature and the enduring artistry of metalwork. This mirror is not only a reflection of Lalanne’s mastery but also a celebration of her ability to immortalise the ephemeral beauty of the natural world in a truly timeless medium.