04/25/2025 Jewelry, General
NEW YORK, NY -- Ilias Lalaounis (1920–2013) was a visionary jeweler who earned international acclaim for his distinctive gold jewelry deeply rooted in history and culture. Born in Athens, Lalaounis was the third generation of a family of goldsmiths and watchmakers. He studied Economics and Law at the University of Athens, but his true calling emerged as he apprenticed at his uncle’s jewelry firm, Zolotas, which he took over in 1941.
In the 1950s, Lalaounis had a transformative vision: to revive the beauty of ancient Greek artifacts through jewelry. Merging historical inspiration with innovation, he brought ancient techniques such as granulation, filigree, hand-weaving and hammering back to life, while incorporating contemporary tools and technology. His goal was to create not just objects of beauty, but pieces that carried symbolic and spiritual connections to their cultural roots.
In 1957, he debuted the Archaeological Collection inspired by Classical, Hellenistic and Minoan-Mycenaean art. The collection marked the start of his unique blend of antiquity and modernity. After his uncle’s passing, he established Ilias Lalaounis – Greek Gold S.A. in 1969. Headquartered at the foot of the Acropolis, the firm expanded with branches on several Greek islands and soon across Europe, the United States and Asia.
The 1970s saw a creative explosion, most notably with the avant-garde ‘Blow Up’ collection that draped the human body in gold jewelry. Lalaounis continued exploring new realms, drawing inspiration from not only ancient cultures, but also science, medicine, astronomy and the natural world. In 1990, he became the first jeweler inducted into the prestigious Académie des Beaux-Arts in Paris.
Over his prolific career, Lalaounis created more than fifty collections. His work has been exhibited in museums around the world, including the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Smithsonian Institution. Prominent fashion icons attracted by his timeless creations include Elizabeth Taylor and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.
In 1993, he founded the Ilias Lalaounis Jewelry Museum, showcasing examples from his collections spanning 1940 to 2002 and promoting the study of jewelry and decorative arts. Today his legacy continues under the leadership of his four daughters, Aikaterini, Demetra, Maria and Ioanna, continuing Lalaounis’s enduring place in the world of art and jewelry.
Jewelry by Ilias Lalaounis from the Estate of a Prominent Washingtonian: Old World Elegance and other collections and estates will be offered in select auctions this season, including:
Jewelry Online | Timed Auction April 28 | View Lots
Important Jewelry | Auction April 30 | View Lots
Springtime Style | May 8 | View Lots
and other upcoming sales
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