The Ilias Lalaounis Jewelry Museum first opened it’s doors to the public in 1993. Since then, it has been educating, enlightening and enchanting almost everyone who visits this unique space dedicated to jewelry and the decorative arts.
I was completely captivated by this 'boutique' museum from the moment I stepped foot inside. I loved the jeweler, making jewelry inside the foyer in his own small workshop- I loved the fact that he was obviously a long term employee of the Lalaounis family business and would probably have been retired years ago from any other company- and I loved the sense that this is very much a ‘working’ and ‘living’ museum.
Talking with Ioanna Lalaounis later, she reinforced that first imression by stressing that the main emphasis within the museum lies on learning, and to that effect they house a large research library that is open to the public in the building next door. There are also many cultural and educational programmes on offer both for children and adults.
When I visited the museum, I was lucky enough to see a wonderful temporary exhibition which celebrated outwardly traditional stereotypes of femininity through three quirky and off beat private collections.
Liza Gramatikopoulou Moussi lent a collection of Japanese hair ornaments and objects d’arts. Also on show is Maria Totomi's amazing collection of thimbles- almost any type of thimble imaginable- some with famous faces, some made from precious metals, and some carved roughly from wood for the more humble seamstresses.
But my favourite collection must be the miniature shoes lent by Sofia Barbaresou. There is almost every type of shoe represented, from 17th century satin slippers to Cinderella’s glass slippers to ballet slippers! Even the humble flip flop has a place. I'm not a collector, but I have to say that this show of shoes did make a little jealous!
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to visit this wonderful ltitle museum- it is truly a gem!
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