Greek Icon: Ilias Lalaounis

The late, great Ilias Lalaounis was an iconic Greek goldsmith whose work was internationally-renowned.

Ilias Lalaounis began his career in the 1930s working for his uncle, Xenophon Zolotas, as an apprentice. He worked at, and managed, the Zolotas firm until 1968 before eventually opening his own company a year later.

In 1969, Lalaounis opened his own firm: "Greek Gold - Ilias Lalaounis, S.A."

Lalaounis gained notoriety from his abilities to perfect the often-neglected techniques of granulation, filigree, hand-weaving, and hand-hammering.

In 1994, he founded the Ilias Lalaounis Jewelry Museum (ILJM), located in the center of Athens, Greece.  This museum displays a permanent collection of over 3,000 pieces from 50 collections created by Lalaounis between 1940 and 2002.  Included in these collections are pieces that were inspired by the art of Ancient Greece, the ancient architecture of Byzanitum, nature and technology.  Also on display is one of Lalaounis' special commissions:  The Olympic Torch!

After his passing in 2013, vintage Lalaounis pieces rarely surface. When they do, it is all-but-guaranteed they will realize substantial premiums.

Gone, but never forgotten.

Ilias Lalaounis, 10/04/1920 - 12/30/2013