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Ilias Lalaounis (1920- 2013) was an awarded goldsmith, jeweler and jewel designer. He originated from Delphi and grew up under the Acropolis rock. Ilias Lalaounis is the only awarded jewelry artist by the French Academy of Fine Arts.

Family history
Lalaounis originated from Delphi and was born in Aghia Aikaterini of Plaka. He was a fourth generation goldsmith. In 1940 he took over the administration of his uncle’s firm “Zolotas” which he managed until 1968. All jewelry is designed by him. In 1957, he married Lila Altitzoglou with whom he had four daughters, Aikaterini, Demetra, Maria and Ioanna. In 1968, he makes his own firm named “Ilias Lalaounis- Greek Gold S.A.”.

His Art
In 1969 he makes his own firm “Greek Gold- Ilias Lalaounis S.A.”. His activity spreads increasingly and makes him the jeweler with the richest jewelry production in the world. From 1957 until 2001 he counts more than 18.000 jewelry and micro-sculptures from 50 collections. His insight and ideas allow him to make his own “empire” inaugurating more than 30 shops in the whole world. Ilias Lalaounis changed with his art the goldsmithery, worldwide and created a unique, personal style.

Innovations
His work is based on his innovations and his ideas. His love for ancient Greece and the ancient Greek art history, guided him to study lost ancient techniques of goldsmithery. Thus, in a few years, he managed to revive some ancient Greek techniques and also, he created some new fashions and techniques for the contemporary jewelry. The techniques that he revived: The Repoussé technique, The Hand Hammering technique, The Wire Filigree, The Hand Woven Chain, The Granulation technique, The Stone- setting technique.

ILIAS LALAOUNIS GALLERIES
THAT OPENED BETWEEN 1968 – 1990

GREECE
Central Athens -Panepistimiou & Voukourestiou streets -Tresor

-Athens Airport -Athens Tower -Notos Galleries -Hilton Hotel -The Grand Bretagne Hotel -Glyfada -Kifissia -Museum Shop in ILJM -Golden Hall Mall

Other Greek Cities
THESSALONIKI LARISSA

Greek Islands
MYCONOS RHODES CORFU SANTORINI (2006)

WORLD WIDE
FRANCE, PARIS UNITED STATES, NEW YORK CITY SWITZERLAND, GENEVA AND ZURICH GREAT BRITAIN, LONDON JAPAN, TOKYO HONG KONG VIRGIN ISLANDS ILIAS LALAOUNIS COLLECTIONS by date of first presentation

1.	Minoan and Mycenean (1957)

2.	Classical and Hellenistic (1957)

3.	Swans and Dolphins (1978)

4.	Bonnie and Clyde (1968)

5.	Body Jewelry (1969)

6.	Palaeolithic and Neolithic (1969)

7.	Signs of the Zodiac (1970)

8.	Byzantine (1970)

9.	Wild Flowers of Greece (1970)

10.	Biosymbols (1972)

11.	Microsculptures from the Minoan to the Hellenistic Period 	(1972)

12.	Silver Frolics (1973)

13.	Neo Geometric (1973)

14.	Motion in Space (1974)

15.	Microcosm (1974)

16.	Cycladic (1974)

17.	Executive Boxes (1974)

18.	Owls and Anthemia (1975)

19.	Drops and Chitons (1975)

20.	From Luristan to Persepolis (1975)

21.	Dawn of Europe (1976)

22.	Players (1976)

23.	Choreographism (1977)

24.	Holly Land (1977)

25.	Horseshoes (1977)

26.	Chrysotektonemata (1977)

27.	The Shield of Achilles (1978)

28.	Seashells (1978)

29.	Katerini L. (1980)

30.	Dimitra L. (1981)

31.	Far East (1981, 1982)

32.	Ilion (1983)

33.	Place Vendôme (1983)

34.	For Every Woman’s Victory (1984)

35.	From the Walls of Constantinople to the Tower of London: the Tudor Collection (1985)

36.	Mesopotamia (1986)

37.	Arabesques (1988)

38.	Süleyman the Magnificent (1988)

39.	Amerindian (1990)

40.	Valentine (1990)

41.	Nature and my Art (1990)

42.	Pastorale (1990)

43.	Cypriot (1991)

44.	Celtic (1991)

45.	Vikings (1991)

46.	Scythian (1997)

47.	Pre-Columbian (1995)

48.	Post-Byzantine (1996)

49.	DNA (2001)

50.	CHAOS (2002)

Special Commissions
“Lalaounis style” was adorned by many such as personalities from the cultural and business sector. A lot of people ordered Ilias Lalaounis to make a jewel or a whole collection as a special commission because they wanted to gift it or to keep it for their own. Jackie Kennedy and Archbishop of America Jacob were some of them. Ilias Lalaounis designed also jewelry for theatrical performances, movies and at last he undertook the creation of the Academic swords of the French Academy of Fine Arts. Elizabeth Taylor, Charlize Theron, Barbra Streisand, Kylie Minong and Joan Collins are only some women that adorned Ilias Lalaounis.

Awards

 * 1984: awarded the title of "Honorary Citizen” of the city of Houston, Texas by the city's Mayor for the valuable contribution he made and are making through unselfish public service for the benefit and welfare of mankind; furthermore as a token of high esteem he was elected to serve as a Goodwill Ambassador of the city.


 * 1985: this publication is awarded by the French Academy of Fine Arts, with the PRIX THORLET and the French government ordains him Knight of the "Ordre des Arts et des Lettres".


 * 1986: Ordained "ARCHON EXARCHOS" from the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, under the auspices of Patriarch Demetrios I, delegated by His Eminence the Archbishop of North and South America Iakovos.


 * In December 12, 1990 he is elected as a full foreign member, at the Academie des Beaux Arts/ Institut de France. The highest of all honors since he was the first jeweller ever to be elected at the Institute de France in the Academie des Beaux Arts.

At the same year he is awarded with the “Commandatore Dell’ Ordine Al Merito Della Republica Italiana” award from the President of the Italian Republic, for his contribution to the art of Goldsmithery. The award was presented in Athens by the Italian Ambassador in Greece.
 * 1991: honoured by the University "ADELPHI" Long Island, New York, with DOCTOR OF FINE ARTS, HONORIS CAUSA.


 * 1993: Award by the Prime Minister of France for his contribution to the arts: "Commandeur dans l’ordre des Palmes academiques” by the Republique Francaise, Ministere de l’ Education Nationale et de la Culture.


 * 1994: elected as a Member of the Committee for the International awards of the Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation.


 * 1995: AWARDED on behalf of Le President de la Republique Francaise and the ORDRE NATIONAL DE LEGION D’HONNEUR, with the decoration of the CHEVALIER DE LA LEGION D’HONNEUR


 * 1997: awarded HONORARY GEORGIA CITIZEN for the State of Georgia, City of Atlanta by the Secretary of State Lewis A. Massey.


 * 1999: Awarded the City of Athens metal, by the City Mayor Mr. Dimitris Avramopoulos, for his cultural contribution in the arts and history of Greek Jewellery.


 * 2002: Commemorative Award for his 50 year contribution at the Greek Chamber of Commerce of Athens.


 * 2004: Ilias Lalaounis’ company, Greek Gold-Ilias Lalaounis SA is awarded with a prize from Greek Organization of Business Entrepreneurship for the success of the company profile in Greece and abroad.


 * 2009: elected Academy Member, of the Academia di Casale e del Monferrato per L’arte, La Letteratura, Scienze, La Storia e le Varie Umanita.


 * 2011: Diploma as Honorary Membership to EMAAS in recognition of his contribution to the Arts by EURO MEDITERRANEAN ACADEMY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES.

The Museum
The Ilias Lalaounis Jewelry Museum was founded in 1994 and it is located under the Acropolis rock. The Museum houses more than 4.000 exhibits, jewels and micro-sculptures. The museum building includes also a prototype jewelry workshop, coffee shop and the museum offices.

Today
Today his daughters have taken over the administration of the firm.