Zolotas. La Chrysothèque. An 18k Gold Necklace With Herakles Knot.

18k yellow gold
Weight: approximately 12.30 g
Stamped with Zolotas hallmark
With original Zolotas box and papers
Circa 1980's

A refined gold necklace by the celebrated Athenian house of Zolotas, directly inspired by the goldsmithing traditions of the early Hellenistic period. The piece demonstrates the maison's renowned mastery in reviving ancient Greek jewellery techniques with contemporary wearability.
The necklace is composed of a finely woven loop-in-loop chain—a technique perfected by Greek goldsmiths of the 4th century BC—which retains a supple, fluid drape. The chain terminates at each end with sculptural lion heads, fashioned from hollow tubular gold sheet and worked in repoussé, their manes rendered with expressive chased detail. The lions' open mouths grasp an elegant central Nodus Herculeus—the Herakles knot—an ancient protective symbol associated with healing, fidelity, and the binding of love. At the heart of the knot, a delicate openwork rosette adds a floral refinement characteristic of Hellenistic ornament.

The Herakles knot held profound significance in antiquity: brides wore it on their wedding day, to be untied only by their husband, while warriors believed it hastened the healing of wounds. Zolotas, founded in Athens in 1895, has long been celebrated for translating such archaeological treasures into modern jewels of timeless elegance. ΑΝΤΙΓΑΦΑ ΑΡΧΑΙΩΝ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΩΝ ΚΟΣΜΗΜΑΩΝ, la Chrysothèque - Zolatas, 1983, pp. 56-57, n°356