Interiors

On Madison Does Memorial Day in Style

This season has been non-stop for us. Between the historical recognition we received for the restoration of our beautiful building to high school graduations, family gatherings, and summer steadily approaching, we haven’t had a moment to breathe!

We have, however, come up with some long weekend inspiration for you, as shown in the collage below. Showcasing red, white, and blue, we think these items and interiors capture the beachy weekends, pool parties, and summer soirees in your near future. Think crisp white, natural woven textures, eyelets and crochet. They’re a modern twist on Americana, and eternally classic.

We are happy and thankful for so many things to celebrate this time of year. Enjoy the long weekend and happy Memorial Day to all!

 

Aranaz Nautilus Shell Crossbody Bag / Brightly lit dining area / Mara Hoffman lace-up swimsuit / Tory Burch Gemini link crossbody bag / White patioscape / Self-Portrait striped crochet skirt / Nakashima sofa / Janessa Leone Maxime hat / Gucci round sunglasses / Mansur Gavriel red slides / Backyard patio / On Madison cast iron pagodas / Mesh paneled dress / Tropical wallpaper roomscape

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Most Coveted: Les Giacometti d’Hubert de Givenchy

There are auctions, and then there are auctions.

Certain kinds of auctions are rarefied events (think the auction of Yves St. Laurent and Pierre Berge’s apartment at Christie’s in Paris, 2009) offering works of exceptional artists that have been collected by exceptional patrons.

This past week, Christie’s held “Les Giacometti d’Hubert de Givenchy”, a collection of works by the designer and sculptor Diego Giacometti. Givenchy’s friendship with Giacometti spanned decades and his collection includes some of the master’s most iconic works, including the octagonal table (shown below) with Caryatids and Atlantes in patinated bronze, which fetched over $4 million USD—well above the auction estimate of 800,000-1,200,000 euros.

Givenchy met Giacometti through a friend, art collector and designer Gustav Zumsteg, who gifted Givenchy a gueridon designed by Giacometti. Thus began their long friendship and collaboration. Giacometti, who was born in Switzerland, traveled to Paris to collaborate with the renowned interior designer Jean-Michel Frank.

Frank introduced him to fashion legends like Coco Chanel, Elsa Schiaparelli, and Helene Rochas. In Paris, Diego became the preferred designer within the city’s most fashionable circles, receiving commissions to furnish the city’s most elegant apartments. On Madison pays tribute in pictures to the enduring art of a true creative genius.

 

 

 

 

 

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Chic Sheep

“They are not furniture, they are not sculpture–call them ‘Lalannes’.”

Mention the name Lalanne to a serious collector and the image of flocks of whimsical, life-size sheep grazing in the world’s most beautiful homes immediately comes to mind. Sheep are synonymous with this famous husband-wife artistic duo.

Claude and Francois-Xavier met in 1952 and began collaborating artistically in 1956. Sharing a passion for animals and nature, their first exhibition in 1964 was called “Zoophites”. Known by their moniker ‘Les Lalanne’, the world Les Lalanne is a realm where Surrealism Nouveau Realisme, and anthropomorphism merge, where every creaetion is a playful, whimsical and unique merging of the decorative and fine arts. Their work is also functional, meant to be touched or sat on, even slept on.

From the 1960’s and onwards, Le Lalanne caught the attention of an entire generation and soon had a devoted following among notable private collectors around the world who either purchased or commissioned their works. Fashion luminaries such as Coco Chanel, Hubert de Givenchy, Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Berge, Karl Lagerfeld, Valentino, and more recently Marc Jacobs, John Galliano, and Tom Ford are some of the Lalanne’s major collecting fans. The Lalanne’s even collaborated with Yves Saint Laurent for one of his collections, designing moulded bronze breastplates and bustiers that served as the bodices for some of his gowns.

Not unexpectedly, auction prices have continued to skyrockt in recent years for the coveted Lalanne sheep as well as the fantastical bronze furniture created in a variety of animal shapes and sizes. The gilt bronze crocodile banquette fetched an incredible $482,500 at Christie’s in December 2009.

Les Lelanne definitely practiced their own philosophy. Francois-Xavier famously said, “The supreme art is the art of living”. We couldn’t agree more.

On Madison believes in practicing the art of living every single day, in even the smallest details. Our collage of the Lalanne’s work is a testament that everything in your home should bring a smile.

 

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