Jewellery, Watches and Objects of Vertu

A choker necklace by Lalaounis, of flexible chevron weave design, centred with opposing lion heads, mounted with ruby and diamond collars and ruby eyes, both clasping a sapphire hoop, maker’s mark, signed ‘LALAOUNIS’, stamped mark ‘ZS’ in oval punch, stamped ‘750’, with signed box, length approximately 37cm. £4,000-£6,000

Ilias Lalaounis, was born in Athens in 1920 into a family of goldsmiths. Although he read law and economics at university he had a passion for the art and artefacts of ancient Greece, and started to study ancient goldsmithing techniques. He joined the family firm in 1940 and began producing collections inspired by ancient and classical jewels. In 1969 he set up his eponymous company and continued to produce iconic collections that echo and reinterpret the ancient jewellery and artefacts that inspired him. He was the first goldsmith to be honoured by the Institute de France, Academie des Beaux Arts et des Lettres.