Because the area is very infertile the inhabitants were forced to put their brains to work "evalan to mualo na kopsi". Soon many developed into skilled artisans of iron, copper, bronze, brass, gold, silver, producing beautiful jewelry, icons, church bells, church utensils, shotguns, etc.
They excelled in the art of crafting jewelry using silver and gold. Jewelers from Stemnitsa can be found around the world.

The Greek government recognizing Stemnitsa's contribution as a center for the development of metallic art established a public fund supported school (3rd photo) where young adults can go to learn to make jewelry from silver and gold. This building was Stemnitsa's Elementary school. Unfortunatelly Stemnitsa, and generally the Greek country-side, cannot support young growing families. So the school remained closed for a number of years. Currently about 20-30 students are trained there annually, tuition free. They come mainly from the surrounding areas but they are permitted to come from anywhere in Greece.

Master Lambis Katsoulis (L to R, 1st photo below) "the Stemnitsiotis Phidias of silver and gold" returned to Stemnitsa after many years of running a successful jewelry shop in Athens,"because I love Stemnitsa" he used to tell me, and became instrumental for reviving and propagating the art of jewelry making. "O Barba Lambis" was capable of looking at a drawing or a photo of an old coin and carving that image on a piece of metal, "the Mytra" (10th photo below) 180 degrees out of phase and in a concave configuration. This "mytra" then became the"stamp" where thin pieces of silver or gold could be pressed to producethe now famous "Constantinata" depicting holy images in the form of small coins.
"O Barba Lambis" was the first to direct this school. This was his gift of love to the Stemnitsa he loved so much... He was such a graphic character! He indeed was a national "Treasure"!

At least three of the original graduates of the Silver & Gold jewelry making school have established very nice Jewelry stores in Stemnitsa: Voula Gyftopoulou (7th photo) , in 1984, took over Barba Lambis's workshop. She worked with him for a number of years until he retired. Two more graduates: Athanasios Asimakopoulos and Sophia Benopoulou Sarakiniotis opened Jewelry Stores later on. Voula Gyfropoulou told me that in addition to Master Lambis another teacher by the name Aristidis Vlachogiannis (2nd photo) taught the students how to make icons of gold and silver.

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