Jewels with a twist
- Elisa’s jewellery is inspired by her Greek roots
- She creates her pieces with the lost wax casting technique
- She uses locally sourced recycled silver and gold
While Elisa Pantazopoulos was studying at the University of Law in Fribourg, she was fascinated by the jewellery world. She used to spend hours watching videos about jewellery making. As she continued her studies, she realized that she wanted to do something with her hands. When she moved to London, she enrolled in night courses for jewellery making. That was the turning point. She still remembers the powerful feeling she had the day she made her first ring. Once graduated, Elisa studied jewellery making at Holt’s Academy and in 2016, she launched her own jewellery business ELI-O. For Elisa, the beauty of jewellery is that you can keep it forever, and the strong connection between the jewel and its wearer.
Interview
- What does beauty mean to you?
- Now more than ever, we need to change the way we consume. A piece of jewellery is only beautiful if the process used to produce it preserves the integrity and beauty of nature and the people that made that piece.
- Does the environment play an important role in your practice?
- I appreciate considerate craftsmanship. To minimise my environmental footprint and support local designers, my pieces are cast in Geneva and made with recycled sterling silver 925 and 18-carat gold from local suppliers. The pouches they are presented in are finalised in collaboration with EPI and Trajet, local organisations that promote the social and professional integration of people with disabilities.
- What are your sources of inspiration?
- I am inspired by my Greek roots. I love the country's atmosphere, and the authentic feel emanating from its nature and buildings. I have always been fascinated by its ancient jewellery, which is characterised by timeless beauty. This inspires my perfectly imperfect handmade pieces, each with their own story to tell, ready to be passed down through generations.
- How do you express tradition and innovation in your work?
- I use the ancient technique of wax carving. I love sculpting and hand carving the wax to create unique pieces, and I never use or make a mould of existing antique coins. The hand worked wax model is either cast in silver or 18-carat gold, following the traditional lost wax method.
Elisa Pantazopoulos is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2016
Works
Where
Elisa Pantazopoulos
