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The city of Ioannina is situated in the northwest Greece and is part of the administrative district of Epirus. It is the biggest city in Epirus and has a rich historical background. Here in Ioannina, an individual traditional craft has developed for centuries: the craft of processing silver by hand in order to make items of unique art.

During the last centuries, the workshops of Ioannina upgraded their technique and as a result the well-known silverware of Ioannina is now recognised as the best of its kind.

The beginnings of the silversmith's craft in Ioannina date back to the beginning of the history of the city of Ioannina as well. From various references we know that the silver is processed in Ioannina since the years of the Byzantine Empire. In addition Turkish documents refer that in 1430 the sector of the silversmith's craft is at its peak. There is evidence that all these years the silversmiths from Ioannina have trading and exporting activity in places such as Belgrade, Venice, Bucharest, Prague, Vienna, even in Skopje and Russia.

There are about 90 workshops in Ioannina today that continue producing handmade works of art using traditional techniques such as:

  • The noted hand engraved utensils
  • The hand engraved ecclesiastical objects, such as hanging oil-lamps and holly icons
  • The cast utensils, such as teaspoons and dinner sets
  • The cast lamps
  • The filigree ("syrmatera" in Greek) jewels and utensils made entirely by silver wire twisted in patterns, all handmade, technique known since the years before Christ
  • The known Byzantine and Archaic jewels

Map of Ioannina and the
locations of the silversmiths workshops

See more information about the products of the members on page: The members of the Association.


Association of Ioannina Silversmiths
"Gianiotiki Tehni"
11 Makariou st,
KE.PA.VI. - Ioannina (Greece)
E-mail: info@ioanninasilver.com

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