collector - donor
ELIAS E. DARADIMOS
‘’I was born a collector, collecting, since a young age, postage stamps, coins and magazines. That is what makes me wake up at 5 every morning to go to flea markets and discover valuable items. I remember back then, when with the corner of my eye I saw a shegune (a type of overcoat), I searched a little more and found a long-sleeved shirt, then all the pieces of the costume. What's important is not that I got it at a low price-I have paid way more at international auctions-, but that I saved it. Each piece of a costume reveals the values of each era. The grandeur of modern Greece. This is the history of Greece, a nation that loves and creates beauty. It is no coincidence that in auctions taking place abroad, Greek embroidery is highly priced.
A collector usually collects for his own pleasure, to satisfy his personal needs. His relationship with his collection lasts his whole lifetime. We could say that a collection is like a child, constantly in need of care. This is why it is difficult to part ways with it, especially while you are still alive. Nevertheless, I made the decision to do it as a form of spiritual consignment to my birth place, Chrisso. I was led by my love for the place and the value of giving taught to me by my parents Eythimis and Anna Daradimos to whom I dedicate this exhibition.
The collection of the Ethnological and Folklore Museum of Chrisso is the result of the constant and persistent efforts during the last fifty years of the collector Mr. Elias Daradimos. It consists of traditional Greek costumes unique in variety, quality and use of stitching, colour schemes and originality of designs, dating from the pre-revolutionary, revolutionary, Ottonian period, until 1920. The collection is complemented with rare prints, paintings, philhellenic collectibles, ceramic items, copper tableware, furniture, photographs, historic documents, traditional jewellery, and embroideries and weapons from the 1821 Revolution. Gathering all these items represents an entire life's labour, knowledge and of course money. Each piece of the collection, whether big or small, is invaluable to me.
I feel blessed to see my collection exhibited because through this I contribute to the promotion not only of my birth place, but also to the interest and love towards folk art.