Sculpture or extravagant piece of furniture? 2.5-meter rhino sold for the price of a luxury villa

Who said a desk can't be a rhino? At Sotheby's June auction, an unusual furniture sculpture by François-Xavier Lalanne fetched a staggering $16.4 million!

They say that a solid desk is essential for efficient work, and a comfortable chair is best left for the client. But what if a bronze rhinoceros stood in the center of the office? That vision could become a reality for the lucky buyer of an extraordinary sculpture that went under the hammer at Sotheby’s in New York. On June 11, 2025, the rhinoceros desk by François-Xavier Lalanne sold for an impressive $16.4 million .

François-Xavier Lalanne, desk sculpture Grand Rhinocéros II, 2003 / Sotheby's

François-Xavier and Claude Lalanne are one of the most fascinating artistic marriages of the 20th century. He was an engineer with a passion for sculpture, she was an artist in love with the delicacy of organic forms. Their joint work was a dialogue between function and fantasy, applied art and conceptual art. The Lalannes transformed animals and plants into sculptural furniture, lamps and architectural elements, giving everyday objects a unique poetics.

François-Xavier Lalanne, desk sculpture Grand Rhinocéros II, 2003 / Sotheby's

Following Claude’s death in 2019 , the art world finally closed one of the most creative chapters in design history, which only increased the value of their work on the collectors’ market.

- Lalanne is the intersection of all worlds – from design through modern to contemporary art. Everyone will find something for themselves in them. And acquiring their work is almost a game of chance for a unique item - indicated Laura Lester, advisor from Sotheby's, quoted by ArtNews.com.

The Grand Rhinocéros II desk sculpture is one of the most impressive examples of François-Xavier Lalanne's style , a work that combines monumental form with discreet functionality. Made of gold patinated bronze , with brass and leather details, it represents a life-size rhinoceros . It is 1.22 m wide, 2.59 m long and 0.61 m high, and its back serves as the work surface of the desk .

Grand Rhinocéros II quickly became the star of Sotheby’s June auction . Bidding began at $2.5 million , but after 45 bids were placed online and by phone, the price quickly rose to a final price of $16.422 million, including fees . It is the second highest price paid for a work by François-Xavier Lalanne – Rhinocrétaire I in 2023 fetched $19.4 million .

In the contemporary art landscape, we are seeing a clear shift towards three-dimensional works – both in functional and collectible form. According to Credence Research, in recent years the " art and sculpture " segment has recorded impressive growth: the value of the global sculpture and spatial art market has increased from $43 billion in 2023 and is forecast to reach over $115 billion by 2032.