Maria Apostolopoulou

Eros-Psyche studio

Jewellery maker

The illusions created by glyptography

Maria practices the craft of intaglio engraving on precious stones using a diamond as her tool
In 1994, she opened her first workshop in the historical centre of Athens
She makes jewellery pieces from the carved gemstones by twinning them with silver, gold and diamonds

Maria Apostolopoulou had an intense need to create with her hands and studied glyptography, theatre scenography, costume design, painting and jewellery. “I apprenticed alongside masters of old forgotten jewellery techniques, such as coin and medal engraving, repoussé, Georgian enamel, and lapidary. Lifelong learning strengthens my passion for creation, which is why I am constantly educating myself on new fields related to the craft of precious stones and metals,” she says. Since 1994, Maria has worked with nature’s hardest materials: using the diamond as a tool on high-hardness gemstones, she creates seal stones, tiny sculptures that are negatively engraved inside the stone, in her Athens-based workshop. Maria is determined to preserve and modernise glyptography and intaglio seal stone engraving. "This is the only way for this craft to keep being relevant to today’s world and to survive," she says. Since 2011, Maria has created several custom glyptic jewellery collections for the British Museum, inspired by its archaeological exhibitions.

Interview

When did you first consider pursuing this craft?: The first time I held a transparent prism of quartz mineral crystal and a diamond tool in my hands. At that moment, I realised that I felt a certain spiritual satisfaction during the practice of the difficult craft of glyptography-seal engraving. From there, it was an easy decision for me to abandon a promising career in theatre scenography to move into the mystical world of precious stones and engraving.
Did you learn your craft from a master?: In the early 1990s, I studied at the Glyptography Center for six years, with the last master gem engraver of the English school of glyptic artists, Nick Kielty-Labrinides (1937-2003), a successor to the British glyptographer and coin-medal engraver Cecil Thomas (1885-1976). The school was connected to the philosophy and principles of classical seal engraving of Greek antiquity. During this period, I was bequeathed the vision to rescue this endangered ancient craft.
Where do you draw inspiration from?: In my language, inspiration means giving breath and spirit to something intangible, and giving life. Through my work, I give life to my creativity, leading me to various themes such as life, love, rebirth, transformation. I am familiar with mythical and philosophical concepts, and therefore, I connected to the world of archetypal symbols – another great source of inspiration for me.
What element of your craft do you love the most?: I love the dual nature of my craft which trains me to see two opposite poles as a whole entity, not only in art but also in life. My craft teaches me that the negative gives birth to the positive and not the other way around. A negative intaglio stamp gives birth to its positive embossed imprint.

Maria Apostolopoulou is an expert artisan: she began her career in 1994 and she started teaching in 1997