L'Étreinte of Maison Forest Audiard
CONTENTS
There are objects that transcend time, but few are able to capture the emotion of a moment, the warmth of a gesture, or the memory of an invisible bond.
Forest Audiard does not simply create works: he shapes fragments of eternity.
At the crossroads of art and emotion, the House was born from a unique encounter between a sculptor with world-renowned talent, Michel Audiard, and a passionate entrepreneur, Sébastien Forest. Together, they give birth to creations that speak to the heart as much as to the soul.
In this interview, Madame C met these two men united by a common vision: to transform a simple contact into a legacy, and to offer love a bronze setting. Discover the story of L'Étreinte, an iconic work, and the profound message it carries for all those who believe in the strength of connection.
Maison Forest Audiard
Maison Forest Audiard: the creators
Sébastien Forest: Forest Audiard is, above all, an encounter. That of a sculptor, Michel Audiard, whose works are part of the private collections of the great and the good (Nelson Mandela, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton... and even Madonna) and whose hands shape bronze as if telling a story, and an entrepreneur, myself, passionate about the emotion that exceptional objects can evoke. We share the same vision: to give a soul to objects, to transform a simple touch into an eternal memory.
The Forest Audiard story
Michel Audiard: It all starts with an object, a simple corkscrew, but not just any corkscrew. A winemaker friend confided in me that he had nothing left of his grandfather, not even his old corkscrew. This sentence resonated with me and gave birth to the Wine Opener, an object shaped in bronze from the imprint of its owner's hand.
Sébastien Forest : When I discovered this object in Michel's workshop, I was immediately fascinated by what it represented: the memory of a gesture, the link between generations. I placed an order, first for myself, then for my father and uncle, reversing their fingerprints. Each time they opened a bottle, they rediscovered the touch of each other's hand. The emotion was there.
This is how Forest Audiard was born: from the desire to capture these moments, to inscribe the links in the material, to make each object a story to be passed on.
L'Étreinte to Materialize
the most tender of gestures
Born from two clasped hands,
I am the trace of a gesture of love,
The allegory of union.
I am the fusion of two bodies and two souls,
I give form to the elusive,
I am a sculpture of love,
I am The Embrace."
L'Étreinte Collection
Michel Audiard : Love is spoken in a thousand languages, but it is lived in a simple gesture: give a hand to the one you loveA contact so banal that we immediately forget it, and yet, it says everything. The warmth of a palm, the caress of fingers, that fragile hollow that exists between two joined hands… This space will disappear as soon as they separate.
With The Embrace, we chose to freeze for eternity, to sculpt not the hands, but what unites them. Because this void is not one: it is the trace of a love, the memory of a silent oath.
Sébastien Forest : The Embrace is born from two hands clasped and a gesture of love frozen in time. A invisible form and yet so powerful, that of this space that we create when we hold hands. This space disappears when the fingers relax... We wanted to give it an eternity.
The Embrace is the materialization of the love bond. This gesture, so natural, which says everything without a word. It is the promise to be there, tenderness of a suspended moment. We wanted capture this fragile hollow between two beings, so that it becomes a landmark, a witness, a timeless symbol of love.
How does the house combine tradition and innovation in its creations, particularly with the use of the lost wax technique?
Michel Audiard For centuries, the lost wax technique has been used to give substance to dreams and to freeze the invisible. This expertise allows us to sculpting absence as if it were presence. We did not shape hands, but the space between them. Something that has never been captured before.
How is “L'Étreinte” a perfect symbol for couples celebrating their union or marriage?
Sébastien Forest : Marriage is choosing to walk hand in hand, literally and symbolically, to forge a bond that stands the test of time. The Embrace, it is this link, materialized in matter, preserved forever. It becomes the silent witness to this union, a presence in a home, a sculpted fragment of the bond that unites. It is a promise frozen in matter, a declaration that we do not wear on ourselves but which sits in our homes, like a landmark, an eternal symbol, a fragment of love sculpted to cross time.
What materials do you use in your collections and how do they contribute to the timeless beauty of each piece?
Michel Audiard Bronze is the memory of sculpture. It is the metal of civilizations, of works destined to last, to transcend the centuries. At Forest Audiard, we chose bronze because it carries within it timelessness.
Material is the first witness of a work. It preserves the imprint of the gesture that shaped it, it dialogues with light, with time, with those who touch and contemplate it.
Each Embrace is born from this noble metal, fused at over 1 degrees, cast in a mold in the heart of our art foundry, and then chiseled, polished, and finished by hand. We offer it enhanced with precious finishes:
Silver, for a soft and timeless elegance,
Rhodium-plated silver, for a bright and lasting shine,
Gilded with 24 carat yellow gold, solar radiance of an eternal promise,
Gilded with 18-carat rose gold, tender and delicate breath of a deep love.
And because bronze lives, we also offer patinas, which give it depth and character, a subtle texture that evolves over the years, like a love that improves with time.
A bronze work doesn't freeze the moment, it inhabits it. It resonates, it vibrates, it becomes a living imprint, a fragment of eternity placed in a home.
How do you support couples in creating custom pieces that match their unique vision for their wedding?
Sébastien Forest: Choosing L'Étreinte is not just about acquiring a work of art, it is about living a rare and intimate experience. Each piece is unique, shaped from thereal footprint of the bride and groom, a fragment of love captured in matter.
The fingerprinting, the first step of this ritual, can be done in our EPV-certified foundry in Rochecorbon or anywhere in France. We encourage you to make it a moment of sharing, surrounded by loved ones, to anchor the work in a collective memory.
During 10 to 12 weeks of creation, we share with the bride and groom the main stages of production, so that they can see their Embrace come to life. The final handover — in our workshop or at the location of their choice — also personalized, seals this poetic and sensitive adventure.
The Embrace is not a mere object, it is a work that we experience, which we expect, which we transmit.
What advice would you give to couples looking for a timeless wedding gift or a meaningful symbol of their love?
Michel Audiard : Forget what glitters. Look for what resonates.
A wedding is not just a day of celebration, it is a story to be written, a bond to grow.
The Embrace is not just a sculpture, it is an imprint of love frozen in matter.
An intimate space that exists between two souls and that we have chosen to immortalize.
If you're looking for a gift that's experienced rather than shown, an object that carries your love rather than flaunts it, then you've just found it.
The Embrace is your love sculpted for eternity.
Mrs. C's Privilege
A privileged experience for the first orders of "The Embrace"
On the occasion of the very first orders for the live work L'Étreinte, made via Madame C community Maison Forest Audiard opens its doors wide for a unique encounter.
The lucky first buyers will be welcomed in a personalized manner for an exclusive tour of the foundry, in the company of Michel Audiard himself — the artist at the heart of the project. This immersion will be followed byan intimate and friendly lunch with the team, to share the behind the scenes of creation in a spirit of exchange and passion.
Follow the news from Maison Forest Audiard
Website > www.forestaudiard.com
IG > @forestaudiard
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PARTNER ARTICLE
This article is the subject of a partnership with Maison Forest Audiard Each blog partner is carefully selected to present readers with cutting-edge professionals, in line with the blog's editorial line.
We would like to thank Maison Forest & Audiard, who, by choosing to invest in the blog, are contributing to its sustainability and development.
If you are interested in joining our team of partners, we invite you to visit our page TO BECOME PARTNER and contact us via the contact form.
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