Celine has collaborated with the Fondation César, the organization dedicated to the memory of French sculpture César Baldaccini, for a limited-edition necklace collection. The collection is numbered and limited to just 100 vermeil and 100 silver pieces. Each pendant will be presented in an artisanal pine box, hot-stamped with the artist’s signature.

The first “directed compressions” were created by César in 1959. Beginning with small-scale forms, the sculptures were initially made from soldered and welded metallic objects and scrap metals such as piping and license plates. He often collected and used found objects and materials to make his sculptures. The idea of compressing form came to César in 1958 while visiting a scrap merchant in search of metal. Here he saw a large-scale hydraulic crushing machine in action and decided to experiment with it for sculptures.

Recycling was always used within César’s compression work. Eventually these sculptures took on large scale proportions. The hydraulic press enabled César to create his now renowned car compressions, transforming an everyday object into a monumental sculpture. This almost industrial style process plays upon the perceived function of the object, a technique that César called demystification.

In 1971, César started collecting jewelry from his friends and family and compressed them on a totemic form, turning them into symbolic pendants hung on a leather cord or chain. The new collaboration with Celine is unisex, fit for any customer who wants to appreciate a piece of art around their neck.