Sotheby’s has unveiled a collection of jewelry, art, and design owned by Anne Schlumberger, the French-born heiress who lived in Houston most of her life and became an influential patron of the arts and sciences. The auction house is featuring items from the Schlumberger Collection in a series of international exhibitions and sales this fall.
Among the jewelry highlights is Salvador Dalí’s Swirling Sea necklace of sapphires, emeralds, pearls, and diamonds (pictured at top). Conceived in 1954 and made in 1963 by New York jeweler Carlos Alemany, the 18k gold necklace evokes the motion of waves and the shimmer of light across water—an example of surrealism in wearable form. It was commissioned by Madame São Schlumberger, the second wife of Anne’s father, Pierre Schlumberger, shortly after their marriage.
Equally striking are decorative pieces by Claude and François-Xavier Lalanne, whose work was at the heart of the interior design for Anne Schlumberger’s homes. The only copper version of François-Xavier’s hippopotamus-shaped bar cart, known as Hippopotame Bar, is estimated to achieve in excess of $7 million at auction. It was made under commission of Anne Schlumberger in 1976; Lalanne’s later Hippopotame Bars would be cast in bronze.
Schlumberger’s relationship with the Lalannes— defined by a shared sense of fantasy, humor, and precision—is further demonstrated in the collection by Claude’s Anémone balustrade elements and Les Portes du Jardin gates.
“Anne Schlumberger collected with a visionary eye, seeking harmony across art and design and creating provocative dialogues that transcended beyond decoration,” said Jodi Pollack, Sotheby’s chairman and co-head of 20th-century design, in statement. “Her pioneering support of Les Lalanne stands out—the Schlumberger Collection remains one of the greatest assemblages of their work in this country and a lasting testament to her legacy.”
The Sotheby’s statement included comments from the Schlumberger family: “Our mother’s collection reflects the breadth of her curiosity and the connections she found across disciplines…. For her, collecting was never about decoration but about creating connections and conversations. The hippopotamus bar, like so many pieces she lived with, embodied her sense of wonder, humor, and love of life.”
Anne Schlumberger died in April at the age of 85. The Schlumberger Collection shows her eye for craftsmanship and beauty, and the daring spirit she brought to collaborations with artists. Select highlights are on view at Sotheby’s locations in Paris and Hong Kong this month, and objects will be offered in multiple sales worldwide into next year. The Hippopotame Bar will be in Sotheby’s Important Design auction in New York on Dec. 10.
Top: Salvador Dalí Swirling Sea Necklace in 18k gold with sapphire and emerald beads, pearls, and diamonds, estimate $350,000–$585,000 (photos courtesy of Sotheby’s)
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