Stavros E. Stavridis

At age 10, my father Stavros E. Stavridis (1948 - 2021), started frequenting art dealers and flea markets with his uncle Demetrius S. Stavridis who was an avid collector of antiques and works of art. Stavros was fascinated and bewildered by the world of art and collectibles, and despite the fact that he was just a child, he quickly started spotting opportunities and making smart purchases with his grade school allowance.

When Stavros turned 25 he quit his job and moved to Oxford with my mother Stella. They travelled around England buying antique prints and maps of Greece until they depleted all of their savings. When they returned to Athens, Stavros opened his first gallery in Kolonaki in 1975. Three years later the gallery moved to a new location in Panagitsas Street, Kifisia and remained there until 2010.

For almost 50 years Stavros bought, sold, collected, studied and admired antique prints, maps and rare books. His prints ended up embellishing hundreds of homes and offices around the country. Stavros enriched numerous important collections: small and large, private and institutional. He was one of the few dealers to frequent the home off Henry M. Blackmer, and to be invited to join the Trustees of the National Historical Museum in Athens.

More importantly Stavros was everything a son could ever want from a father and more. Through his work, his generosity and his kindness, he introduced me to a world of endless beauty that has touched my life for the better in every imaginable way.

Alex S. Stavridis

Stavros E. Stavridis has contributed to the following collections: