woven necklace with loveknot and lions

Symbol of strength, courage and protection. The Greeks regarded lions as the guardians of shrines, entrances and palaces, such as the Lion Gate at Mycenae, and as protectors of the hearth and home.

In Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, heroes such as Achilles are compared with lions at moments of extreme passion and power. Herakles, in his first labour, overcame the hitherto invincible Nemean lion, and thereafter wore the impenetrable lionskin.

A symbol of love and commitment, the love knot - also known as the Hercules knot and reef knot - featured in ancient Greek and Roman weddings.

Consisting of two strong, intertwined strands, it was tied as a protective amulet into the bride's wedding gown, to be untied by the groom. Hence derives our idiom of tying the knot. This tradition may have a mythological connection with the capture of Artemis' famous belt by Hippolyta, the Amazon Queen.

It has been a privilege to work with the Vaphiadis family since 2007. They are one of the best manufacturers of sterling silver jewellery in Greece.

The collection is inspired by ancient Greek silver and gold coins, the art and jewellery of the Minoan civilisation, familiar symbolic motifs and images, and the animals that played a significant part in ancient Greek culture.

Due to the tragic, sudden death in early 2025 of Ioannis Vaphiadis, who made all this beautiful jewellery, the family's jewellery production has ceased.

This is all the remaining stock that I have. Ioannis was only in his late 50s, was such a lovely man and a dear friend.

I was so lucky to work closely with him for 19 years.If you already have a piece of his jewellery, cherish it.