New York — Sotheby’s is celebrating one of the 20th century’s most fascinating collectors with the unveiling of The Schlumberger Collection, a dazzling ensemble of jewelry, art, and design owned by Anne Schlumberger — the French-born heiress, philanthropist, and lifelong patron of the arts who made Houston her home.
Among the collection’s many treasures is a surrealist masterpiece that perfectly encapsulates the eccentric brilliance of Schlumberger’s world: Salvador Dalí’s “Swirling Sea” necklace, a kinetic dream in sapphires, emeralds, pearls, and diamonds. Conceived in 1954 and realized in 1963 by New York jeweler Carlos Alemany, the 18k gold necklace shimmers like light across water, fusing Dalí’s surreal imagination with fine jewelry craftsmanship.
Hippopotame Bar by François-Xavier Lalanne (1976) in copper, maillechort, stainless steel, brass, and painted wood
But jewelry is only the beginning. The centerpiece of the collection—and its most buzzworthy lot—is François-Xavier Lalanne’s “Hippopotame Bar”, the only version ever made in copper, commissioned by Anne Schlumberger herself in 1976. Estimated to exceed $7 million, the life-sized hippopotamus-shaped bar transforms from sculpture to functional object, encapsulating the humor and avant-garde playfulness that defined Lalanne’s collaborations with the Schlumberger family.
Later iterations were cast in bronze, but this early copper version—its belly opening to reveal a bar—remains one-of-a-kind.
“Anne Schlumberger collected with a visionary eye,” said Jodi Pollack, Sotheby’s chairman and co-head of 20th-century design. “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.”
Other highlights include Claude Lalanne’s Anémone balustrades and the wrought-metal Les Portes du Jardin gates, each piece revealing a seamless dialogue between art, design, and nature.
Anne Schlumberger’s children described her collection as “a map of curiosity” — a universe where art, science, and surrealism intertwined. “The hippopotamus bar, like so many pieces she lived with, embodied her sense of wonder, humor, and love of life,” they said in a statement.
Schlumberger, who died in April at 85, was part of the storied Schlumberger oil dynasty, yet her life’s work was devoted to creativity and education. She founded the La Source Foundation to promote literacy and science in developing countries, extending her belief that knowledge and beauty could coexist in every form.
The Schlumberger Collection is now touring Sotheby’s global showrooms, with highlights in Paris and Hong Kong this month, culminating in multiple international auctions—including the Important Design sale in New York on December 10, where the copper Hippopotame Bar will take center stage.
Her collection doesn’t just celebrate taste—it redefines it. In an art world often dominated by restraint and minimalism, Anne Schlumberger dared to collect with imagination, irony, and joy.
👉 Explore the Jewelry & Art Guide to discover how collectors like Anne Schlumberger bridged surrealism, craftsmanship, and legacy in modern design.