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René Lalique’s Most Fantastical Creations Hit the Auction Block in Paris

The sale on December 17 at Sotheby’s Paris includes 39 museum-caliber lots featuring many of the groundbreaking designer’s most iconic motifs

By Jill Sieracki
Ornate silver necklace featuring intricately carved birds and floral patterns against a black background.
René Lalique | Leather, enamel, glass and citrine collar “Chantecler,” 1909. Photo: Courtesy of Sotheby's

An icon of Art Nouveau, René Lalique crafted otherworldly works of art, transforming glass, aluminum, and bronze into sculptural masterpieces. His oeuvre transcended the boundaries of goldsmithing, jewelry design, and glassware and his iconic motifs, such as the swooping Hirondelles and blossoming Dahlia, live on to this today, more than a century after his company’s founding.

Works by Lalique are preserved in some of the most revered institutions of art and design, including the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. Now, fans of his exceptional craftsmanship have an opportunity to own one of 39 extraordinary pieces that are coming to auction for the first time.

Art Nouveau style moth brooch with intricate enamel and diamond detailing, showcasing elaborate wings and body design.
René Lalique, Enamel and diamond clip, “Night Butterfly,” circa 1900. Photo: Courtesy of Sotheby's

Included in the December 17 live sale at Sotheby’s Paris, entitled “Claude H. Sorbac: the Collection of a Lifetime, René Lalique,” are remarkable pieces Sorbac personally assembled over 40 years. A renowned aesthete and collector who passed away in March of this year at the age of 100, Sorbac held an extensive array of art and design with a special devotion to the work of Lalique.

Included in the sale are a number of truly sublime works including a “Orchidée Cattleya” comb, dating to the early 1900s, one of just three Lalique himself produced, this one being the most grand; a glass, enamel, and diamond necklace crafted in homage to Jean Lorrain’s ballet La Princesse au Sabbat, staged in 1898 for Les Folies Bergères; and a Hirondelles comb made with horn and diamond, estimated to achieve between 400,000 and 600,000 EUR at the sale.

Click through to see more exceptional pieces from the December 17 “Claude H. Sorbac: the Collection of a Lifetime, René Lalique” sale at Sotheby’s Paris. 

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Rene Lalique’s Most Fantastical Creations Hitting the Auction Block in Paris

This Renu00e9 Lalique leather, enamel, and glass u201cChantecleru201d collar includes a clasp collet-set with a cabochon citrine. It is expected to fetch between 150,000u2014200,000 Euros in theu00a0 Sotheby’s u201cClaude H. Sorbac: The Collection of a Lifetime, Renu00e9 Laliqueu201d sale.

Photograph by Courtesy of Sotheby's

This openwork leather collar, embroidered with silk, depicting roosters applied with enamel and accented by glass berry motifs, was designed for Sarah Bernhardtu2019s role in the Edmond Rostand play Chantecler.

Photograph by Courtesy of Sotheby's

A Renu00e9 Lalique bandeau decorated with moulded glass pansy flowers motifs, green enamel foliage, and set with circular-, single-cut and rose diamonds is estimated to bring 150,000u2014300,000 Euros in the December 17 live sale.

Photograph by Courtesy of Sotheby's

This circa 1903-1904 u201cCattleyau201d comb by Renu00e9 Lalique features an orchid flower made of carved ivory. The leaves are applied with plique-u00e0-jour enamel and circular-cut diamonds and set on a horn comb. It is estimated at 700,000u20141,500,000 Euros.

Photograph by Courtesy of Sotheby's

Renu00e9 Lalique, ivory, horn, enamel and diamond comb, u201cCattleya,u201d circa 1903-1904.

Photograph by Courtesy of Sotheby's

A circa 1902-1903 glass, enamel and diamond u201cFrogsu201d necklace by Renu00e9 Lalique is composed of a series of moulded glass frog motifs highlighted with enamel and circular-cut diamonds.

Photograph by Courtesy of Sotheby's

This circa 1906-1908 Renu00e9 Lalique horn and diamond u201cLoving Swallowsu201d backcomb carries a presale estimate of 400,000u2014600,000 Euros.

Photograph by Courtesy of Sotheby's

Renu00e9 Lalique, enamel and gold pendant-necklace, u201cWomanu2019s face and Wisteria,u201d circa 1898-1900.

Photograph by Courtesy of Sotheby's

The pendant depicts a woman’s face surrounded by wisteria flowers applied with blue and green enamel. The reverse shows the same motif in chiseled gold, and hands from a gold chain applied with blue enamel.

Photograph by Courtesy of Sotheby's

Renu00e9 Laliqueu2019s circa 1902-1904 glass, enamel, and diamond necklace, u201cDragonflies and Ferns.”

Photograph by Courtesy of Sotheby's

In the shape of a night butterfly applied with multi-colored cloisonnu00e9 enamel and highlighted with circular-cut and rose diamonds, this Lalique clip.

Photograph by Courtesy of Sotheby's

Circa 1910-1912 Renu00e9 Lalique steel and aluminum u201cMulberriesu201d brooch.

Photograph by Courtesy of Sotheby's

Renu00e9 Lalique, Plaque Ophu00e9lie.

Photograph by Courtesy of Sotheby's
Intricate white lace necklace with bird and floral patterns displayed on a black background.
Intricate metallic necklace with detailed bird and branch motifs set against a black background.
gold and enamel bracelet with floral design and gemstone accents on white background
Unique flower resembling a cow's head with white petals and brown textured horns on a white background.
Exquisite bridged tiara with white floral design in an open luxury box, velvet interior shining against a white backdrop.
Green gemstone necklace with square and triangular stones connected by small silver links, arranged in a circular shape.
Intricately carved antique tortoiseshell hair comb with ornate design and detailed craftsmanship against white background.
Elegant long necklace with intricate floral pendant featuring shades of blue and green on a thin, delicate chain.
Artistic pendant with intricate design featuring blue flowers and a face, surrounded by green leaves on a gold chain.
Golden sunburst necklace with detailed patterns and cone-shaped elements arranged in a circle.
Art Nouveau style moth brooch with intricate enamel and diamond detailing, showcasing elaborate wings and body design.
Ornate textured silver pendant with intricate swirling vine design on a hexagonal shape, set against a white background.
Bronze relief sculpture of a reclining figure under a tree branch holding a leaf, with intricate details and textures.
Intricate white lace necklace with bird and floral patterns displayed on a black background.
Intricate metallic necklace with detailed bird and branch motifs set against a black background.
gold and enamel bracelet with floral design and gemstone accents on white background
Unique flower resembling a cow's head with white petals and brown textured horns on a white background.
Exquisite bridged tiara with white floral design in an open luxury box, velvet interior shining against a white backdrop.
Green gemstone necklace with square and triangular stones connected by small silver links, arranged in a circular shape.
Intricately carved antique tortoiseshell hair comb with ornate design and detailed craftsmanship against white background.
Elegant long necklace with intricate floral pendant featuring shades of blue and green on a thin, delicate chain.
Artistic pendant with intricate design featuring blue flowers and a face, surrounded by green leaves on a gold chain.
Golden sunburst necklace with detailed patterns and cone-shaped elements arranged in a circle.
Art Nouveau style moth brooch with intricate enamel and diamond detailing, showcasing elaborate wings and body design.
Ornate textured silver pendant with intricate swirling vine design on a hexagonal shape, set against a white background.
Bronze relief sculpture of a reclining figure under a tree branch holding a leaf, with intricate details and textures.