Vintage Lalaounis Greece Gold Leaf Motif Necklace
View Similar Items
Vintage Lalaounis Greece Gold Leaf Motif Necklace
About the Item
- Creator:
- Metal:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:20th Century
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Lambertville, NJ
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU2882269853
Ilias Lalaounis
It’s fitting that Ilias Lalaounis (1920–2013) is the only jeweler ever inducted into the prestigious Académie des Beaux-Arts — the Greek jeweler’s creations, such as his decorative gold necklaces and rings, are less fashion adornment and more works of art.
Lalaounis was born in Athens in 1920 to a family of goldsmiths and watchmakers with origins in Delphi. Before turning to the family business, Lalaounis studied law, economics, business and music and trained with the painter Alexandros Alexandrakis. Such a well-rounded education laid the foundation for his unique approach to jewelry.
Lalaounis took the helm of his uncle’s jewelry company in 1940. The impact of the Second World War on Greece inspired the jeweler to celebrate his country’s history by reinterpreting its artifacts into new works of art. In 1957, Lalaounis founded the Greek Jewelers’ Association and exhibited at the Thessaloniki International Fair, showcasing the first of his “collections,” as he would come to define his phases of work. This, the Archaeological Collection, was informed by classical and Hellenistic history.
Lalaounis would go on to find new ways to render historic motifs in gold and gemstones after founding his namesake house in 1969. For his 1970s-era collection, Blow Up, he displayed gold pieces inspired by Minoan art on his models’ entire bodies; after opening a store in Tokyo, he presented a collection informed by Japanese art. Later, Lalaounis introduced a collection inspired by Native Americans at his Madison Avenue store in Manhattan. One of the jeweler’s most important commissions came in 1976, when he designed a collection that drew on Persian art for Empress Farah of Iran.
In 1984, Lalaounis explored his unique creative vision with a book, Metamorphoses. By the 1990s, he had stores across Europe as well as in Tokyo, Hong Kong and New York City, and his work had been exhibited at the National Museum of American History and the Penn Museum in Philadelphia, to name a few. In 1994, he founded his own eponymous museum in Athens, with a permanent collection of pieces from 45 of his collections. Lalaounis died in 2013.
Lalaounis’s research-driven approach to jewelry design gives his pieces a depth on par with any art form.
Find an ornate assortment of Ilias Lalaounis’s yellow-gold necklaces, rings and more on 1stDibs.
- Lalaounis Greece Gold Sodalite Pendant NecklaceBy Ilias LalaounisLocated in New York, NY22k yellow gold necklace by Ilias Lalaounis, with cross pendant, set with sodalite stones. Necklace is 26" long, pendant - 45mm x 45mm. Marked...Category
20th Century Greek More Necklaces
MaterialsGold
- Important Lalaounis Greece Chimera Diamond Sapphire Ruby Gold NecklaceBy Ilias LalaounisLocated in New York, NY18k yellow gold lariat necklace by Ilias Lalaounis, featuring two Chimera heads, decorated with rubies, sapphires and diamonds. Necklac...Category
20th Century Greek More Necklaces
MaterialsDiamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold
- Buccellati Leaf Motif Yellow Gold NecklaceBy BuccellatiLocated in New York, NY18k yellow gold leaf motif necklace by Buccellati. Necklace is 15" long and 14mm wide. Marked: Federico Buccellati, 750. Weight - 48.4 grams.Category
20th Century Italian More Necklaces
MaterialsYellow Gold
- Handmade Vintage Italian Brilliant and 18 Karat Gold Leaf Motif NecklaceLocated in Roma, ITThis exceptional handmade piece features highly specialized engraving techniques and Nature motifs. The necklace has 29 brilliant and measures approximately 42 cm. Hand made by ski...Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Retro Choker Necklaces
MaterialsDiamond, 18k Gold
- Zolotas Greece Gold NecklaceBy ZolotasLocated in New York, NYImpressive 22k gold necklace by Zolotas. Necklace is approx. 15" long (wearable length) pendant drop is 4" long total. Marked k22, Z mark , Greece. Weight - 200.6 grams.Category
20th Century Greek More Necklaces
MaterialsGold
- Ilias Lalaounis 18 Karat Yellow Gold NecklaceBy Ilias LalaounisLocated in Tokyo, JPBrand: ilias lalaounis Name:Gold Necklace Material:750 K18 YG yellow gold Weight:40.9g(Approx) neck around:44cm / 17.32in(Approx) Width(inch):8.62mm-17mm / 0.33in-0.66in(Approx) Come...Category
1990s Greek More Necklaces
Materials18k Gold, Yellow Gold