I love these photos, sorry they are a bit dark. These piccies are of a studio we found in Ioannina, north of Greece. Its a place known for it’s silver jewellery. Unfortunately it was a big disappointment as far as jewellery goes. Yes, plenty of shops with imported cheap jewellery, probably from turkey and India. Big let down. BUT we found this working studio at one end of the town. It is a shop front filled with traditionally hand made insence burners for church’s all hand crafted out of silver. What do you call those things? I’m not sure. They were really beautiful. I dragged harry in to the store and made him go and talk to the owner at the back. Poor thing, but I don’t speak Greek, luckily he does! Thankfully the owner was more than happy to let us come into the back. It turns out the owner has been in this business and workshop for more than 40 years and also has his two sons working for him. I WAS IN HEAVEN. Filled with silver, all the familiar tools, benches stacked with silver lemel and pieces being worked on. The owner was working on one of the insence pieces. It was filled with wax so he could chase the design on the outside. I just could’nt believe the amount of workmanship going into these pieces. It was astonishing. Apparently they supply to a lot of the Greek Orthodox churches and export to Italy and I think Turkey as well. They are one of the last workshops that still carries out this work by hand. Amazing…
Oh My God. That bench is beautiful. It looks like many years of making has happened there.
hi – i will be going to Ioannina this year, i was planning to “shop up” on silver as this region is known for its oxidised silver. Do you have the address of this shop, please.
thankyou
Kind Regards
lily
Hello Lily, I wish I could help you with the address, unfotunately I don’t have it on me. There is a big long street with many of the silver shops and stores. If you speak Greek maybe you could ask. I do remember the shopfront was set back from the street, almost like walking into an alcove from the street. It was more than half way down the main strip, further towards the end of the long road of shops.
I’m sorry i couldn’t help you any further.
Regards
Vanessa Samuels
hi, the street with all the silversmiths is called AVEROF. its part of the central street in ioannina and leads to the lake.
there is also an associaltion of silversmiths head quarters near the lake called KE PA VI ( phonetic) any of the stores will tell you where it is.
I live in ioannina and i have a weak spot for the big hand made , silver chain braclets that are exceptionally unique.
hope you enjoy your visit.
angela