Design Icons

words by: Samantha Baird

OBJECT DESIRE

CLAUDE LALANNE’S CROCODILE SERIES

Inspired by flora and fauna, Surrealism and Art Nouveau, the French sculptor Claude Lalanne’s iconic Crocodile series first came to life at a Parisian zoo under a full moon at midnight in 1972. After deciding to incorporate the crocodile’s unique form into her bronze work and realizing that the only way to replicate its intricate details was with the actual animal, Lalanne requested an appointment with a zoo director. He agreed to give her the remains of a deceased crocodile so she waited for the circle of life to reach its end, and when the crocodile died she visited the

zoo to pick it up. Then began this crocodile’s transformation into its next life—a beautiful work of art. Using galvanoplasty, Lalanne applied a metal deposit through electric current on the crocodile to capture its form. Next, she used bronze casting to translate the reptilian motif into this famed armchair, and numerous other acclaimed furniture designs. Lalanne’s talent for taking nature and recreating it with elegant whimsy, coupled with the story behind this piece makes it a highly desired object—so much so that in 2017 a single armchair sold for $1.2 million!

WALLIS SIMPSON’S CARTIER PANTHER BRACELET

In 1952, an exquisite, and undeniably iconic, piece of jewelry entered society on the wrist of Miss Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor. The platinum, diamond and onyx panther bracelet with piercing marquise-shaped emerald eyes was commissioned from Cartier and co-designed by the Duchess with jeweler Jeanne Toussaint. To properly capture the identity of such a desirable beast Toussaint studied the large cats at Paris’s Zoo de Vincennes. In 1987, after the Duchess’s death, a collection of her jewels including the bracelet were auctioned through Sotheby’s where Egyptian businessman Mohamed Al Fayed purchased it for $1.4 million. Twenty-six years later the iconic bracelet returned to Sotheby’s where four telephone bidders raised its price to over $7 million before it was finally purchased by an anonymous buyer. This jewelry classic is sure to live on for many generations to come!

DESIGN STATEMENT

When it comes to design statements in fashion, Alexander McQueen’s Spring/Summer 2008 Ready-to-Wear collection made quite the impact both in the world of fashion and on the designer’s career. The collection was a tribute to McQueen’s mentor and the woman credited with discovering him, Isabella “Issie” Blow, who commit suicide in 2007. McQueen was fascinated by the beauty and savagery of the natural world and this collection highlighted many of his iconic design elements. In particular birds, a beloved creature to McQueen and symbolic of his relationship with Blow, who once defined his clothes as moving like birds. From the massive and extravagant butterfly headpieces to the intricate placement of feathers and bird-of-paradise prints, the collection also referenced some of Blow’s favorite motifs. A striking and bold statement collection, McQueen honored his mentor by bringing out the best in himself which in turn led to a pivotal moment in his career. ALEXANDER MCQUEEN’S S/S 2008 READY-TO-WEAR COLLECTION

SAGRADA FAMÍLIA BY ANTONI GAUDÍ

The iconic, yet still incomplete, Sagrada Família, located in Barcelona, Spain, is a one-of-a-kind temple. In 1883, the renowned architect Antoni Gaudí took over its design from Francisco de Paula del Villar and so began the extensive structure’s long history. One of Gaudi’s most famous phrases was “originality is returning to the origin”. And in his eyes, the origin of life began with nature. So it is no coincidence that organic forms and techniques played a strong role in Sagrada Família’s design. With 135 years of unique design, endless construction efforts and 3 million visitors a year, just imagine the stories this building’s walls could tell! Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its iconic, unique form—a piece of art unlike anything else— it is anticipated that Sagrada Família will be completed on the 100th anniversary of Gaudi’s death, in 2026.