Stephen Ford and David Forlano both studied painting at Tyler School of Art. They met while studying for a semester in Rome; discussions of their different methods of approaching painting were artistically stimulating and they decided to work as a team. This unique collaboration was born and is still vibrant today.

After the Philadelphia Museum of Art's Director, Anne d'Harnoncourt, passed away suddenly in June 2008, the Museum approached Ford and Forlano to make a piece to honor her. Anne was one of their dedicated patrons; her memory was a source of inspiration for this exquisite neckpiece. When explaining the dual sided nature of the neckpiece the artists stated, "We think of it as a combination of something classical, restrained, and dignified on the one side and something rich, exuberant, adventurous on the other--like Anne herself." The Pillow Collar Necklace is a profound tribute to honor Anne d'Harnoncourt's commitment to craft, the Museum's craft collection, and contemporary artists. This neckpiece is a tour-de-force that encapsulates the best of Ford and Forlano's work as makers of jewelry in polymer clay.