Ilias Lalaounis Jewelry Museum
The Ilias Lalaounis Jewelry Museum (ILJM) is the first museum in Greece devoted exclusively to the art of jewelry and one of the few museums of its kind worldwide.
Established as a non-profit cultural organization in 1993 and opened to the public in 1994, the museum serves as an international center for jewelry and decorative arts, focusing on goldsmithing, silversmithing, and contemporary artistic jewelry.
Located beneath the Acropolis and close to the Parthenon, the museum is housed in two historic buildings: the former family residence of Ilias Lalaounis and his old jewelry workshop. The museum combines history, craftsmanship, art, and education, offering visitors a unique insight into the evolution of jewelry from antiquity to the modern era.
The permanent collection includes historic and contemporary jewelry, decorative objects, original designs, tools, and archival material, with special emphasis on the fifty collections created by Ilias Lalaounis between 1957 and 2002. Inspired by ancient Greek art, Byzantine tradition, world civilizations, mythology, science, and nature, Lalaounis revived traditional techniques such as filigree, granulation, and hand-hammering while integrating modern technologies into jewelry design. His creations transformed jewelry into a form of artistic and cultural expression recognized internationally.
The museum also promotes education and research through exhibitions, workshops, lectures, and cultural programs for both children and adults. Among its most important educational initiatives is the “History of Greek Jewelry” program, a one-week intensive course focusing on the evolution of Greek jewelry from Classical antiquity to Byzantine, modern, and contemporary periods. Through lectures, lessons, museum visits, and study tours to archaeological sites and jewelry workshops, participants gain a deeper understanding of Greece’s long-standing goldsmithing tradition.
In addition to its permanent exhibitions, the museum organizes temporary exhibitions featuring works from Greek and international artists and collections. Its research library, educational spaces, artist residency studios, and cultural activities make the museum a vibrant center for creativity and artistic dialogue.
Today, the Ilias Lalaounis Jewelry Museum stands as one of Athens’ most distinctive cultural institutions, preserving the legacy of Greek jewelry art while connecting ancient craftsmanship with contemporary artistic innovation.
