These 22k gold Lalaounis earrings are a classic example of the designer’s figurative pieces. Rendered in high karat gold, the earrings consist of a bull’s head that continues into a tapered spiral. The earrings are ornate, with granulation and twisted wire around the head and face of the bull, and a curly motif that is echoed in the earrings’ spirals as well as the granulation around the bull’s collar. The bull is expressive—with a sweet, gentle face that is very endearing. The 22k gold has a soft patina that gives it a beautiful matte sheen. The earrings are handcrafted, including hand twisted wirework, making the details of the bull and the cannetille even more impressive.
Ilias Lalaounis is a Greek designer, and the third generation in a family of goldsmiths. A lover of history, his designs often reference ancient pieces and are a sophisticated take on Greek Revival.
The earrings are 22k gold, with the exception of the back part of the clip on, which is 18k gold because 22k is too soft for this function. The back of the clip on has a lovely heart shape to it, a nice touch the exemplifies the attention to detail in Lalaounis’s work. The earrings are in excellent condition but have a few very small indentations on one of the spirals, which are not noticeable when the earrings are worn. The earrings are marked as 22k and contain the Lalaounis maker’s mark.
Combined, the earrings weigh 18.75 grams. They measure 1 3/8” x 7/8” with a depth of 1/2” at its widest point (the bull’s head) and 1/8” at its narrowest point (the far end of the spiral). The earrings clip on with a secure hold.
Circa 1950’s- 1960’s.
