The Ilias Lalaounis Jewelry Museum (ILJM) opened its doors to the public in 1994. The museum is a non-profit organization with educational aims and strives to act as an international centre for the continuation of the ancient handcraft art of goldsmithery, with the intention to promote aspects of the applied and decorative arts.

A veritable gem of a Museum, housed in a period building of the 1930’s, set on the south side of the Acropolis, a destination for tourists in Athens visitors are introduced to the contemporary wonders of the successful Greek businessman and artist Ilias Lalaounis, the founder of the museum. While discovering the history of ancient Greek art from Prehistory to Byzantium, the Museum’s treasured collections, illustrate the immense potential synergy between ancient goldsmithery and international contemporary jewelry design, in the creation of a potent cultural product.

Over 18.000 original designs of jewelry and microsculpture created by Ilias Lalaounis (1920-2013), academician and entrepreneur changed the course of Greek goldsmithery from mid 20th century. In 1940 Lalaounis began his career managing and elevating the artistic image of the family firm “Zolotas”. Lalaounis creative energy to claim his place in the international scene, artistically as much as commercially made fashion covers. He bejeweled among others Elizabeth Taylor, Barbra Streisand, Farah Pahlavi, Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Queen Sofia of Spain, as well as, inspired new designers worldwide. Hundreds special commissions of objets d’art decorated homes and offices of high esteemed international clergy, politicians and businessmen with the most esteemed creations being the Ceremonial Swords for members of the “Academie des Beaux Arts” of the Institut de France. In 1968 he founded his own firm naming it after his own name, and expanded it from Athens and the Greek islands to Paris, New York, London, Geneva, Zurich, Limassol, Tokyo and Hong Kong. Lalaounis received many prizes and awards for his contribution to art, amongst them the French Legion d’ Honneur, the Italian Commandatore della Merito; but was proudest of becoming the only jeweler ever to be elected to the Academie des Beaux Arts, Institut de France.

Lalaounis creations have been presented in over 120 shows and exhibitions worldwide. Among them the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Smithsonian Institute, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts in Moscow, La Chapelle de la Sorbonne in Paris, the National Museum of Art of Romania in Bucharest, the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum in Istanbul. In 1992 he designed the official Olympic torch which is used to light the flame, at ancient Olympia in southern Greece, to inaugurate the start of the summer and winter Olympic Games.

Today the ILJM has a broad agenda focused on the cultural and sociological impact of jewelry on young generations to come. The visitor’s experience the stories and making of 50 collections; a variety of cultural programs for children and adults; specially designed guided tours; programs for disabled and activities for underprivileged youth are an inextricable part of the ILJM’s agenda. Most valued are the temporary exhibitions with decorative arts and jewelry from world history of art. Museum and private collections, artists’ works become a motive to unite common interest to enhance the cultural identity of contemporary Greece. Through this house of worship, where Ilias Lalaounis endowed his legacy for future generations, we strive to follow his example, recapture his spirit and continue to generate a positive revolution of values.

Local

Eat and Drink

• Fish Cafe - Makrigianni (0.2 miles) - Athens Best Fish and Chips under the Acropolis. Icey cold Beers and Line caught Atlantic Cod and Chi...
• MANHMANH (MANIMANI) - Athens (0.2 miles) - Traditional Greek cuisine with a modern twist. The restaurant is named after a region in Greece loca...
• Arcadia Authentic Traditional Greek Restaurant - ATHENS (0.2 miles) - The authentic Greek traditional restaurant Arcadia is located in the picturesque area of the Acropol...
• MODERN ROOFTOP dining - ATHENS (0.3 miles) - At the most enchanting part of Athens, the well-known pedestrian precinct called Dionysius the Areop...
• The Athens Gate Hotel - Athens (0.3 miles) - The Hotel is located in the historic district of Athens, directly opposite the Temple of Olympian Ze...

See and Do

• Ilias Lalaounis Jewelry Museum Acropolis (0.0 miles) - The Ilias Lalaounis Jewelry Museum (ILJM) opened its doors to the public in 1994. The museum is a no...
• Ilias Lalaounis Jewelry Museum Acropolis (0.2 miles) - The Ilias Lalaounis Jewelry Museum (ILJM) opened its doors to the public in 1994. The museum is a no...
• Technohoros art gallery Acropolis, Athens (0.2 miles) - The art gallery "Technohoros" started in 2003 as an initiative of the Greek Engravers Union,...
• Acropolis Museum Athens (0.2 miles) - The Acropolis Museum is an archaeological site specific museum of the 21st century, housing the most...
• We Bike Athens Athens (0.6 miles) - We are an enthusiastic company offering a variety of tours with electrical bicycles in the center an...