Our Master Craftsman

This is to introduce you to our Head Master Craftsman by telling you some of his incredible Journey that brought him to this pasture of knowledge.  His name is Gabriel Salas, and he began his artisan apprenticeship with his uncle who was a cabinet maker in his home town of Durango Durango.  Starting in the year 1968, being in the 6th grade at the time, he assisted his uncle during vacation time, evenings, and week-ends in his workshop constructing chairs, china hutches, tables, and nightstands for many customers until he graduated from high school.  The first project he worked on was the construction and finishing out of 200 chairs.  In the five years he honed his trade there, he experimented with exotic finishes that were of foreign practices to the local craftsman.  He also fine tuned the art of delicate carving that was so uncharacteristic of the traditional crude and undefined Mexican style of that era.  At the age of seventeen, he moved from Durango to Chicago, where he secured employment with a Tiffany Lamp producing company.  He began by cutting the stain glass and brazing the lamps together.  Only after a short time they put him in charge of designing and creating the Tiffany Lamps.  Gabriel later moved to McAllen, Texas and there he designed and constructed jewelry showcases for a jewelry company.  In 1980 he moved to Dallas, Texas and went to work for the Vasek Company, designing and creating custom furniture.  In 1981 he moved to Duncanville, Texas, and found employment with Old Masters Furniture Works, restoring antiques, both in repairs and finish.  He later found employment with the  Roatan Door Company, designing and constructing stained glass doors while managing seven crew members.  He also mastered the architectural designing drawings of homes and construction while being employed with a home building company.  In 1985, Gabriel joined partnership with David Repka in the existing company, Antique Artistry, of which Mr. Repka began its existence in 1980.  Gabriel Salas is without equal in this profession, a virtuoso, and possesses knowledge far beyond the confines and teachings of schooling. It is an inner gift and he utilizes this gift with a appreciation and passion.

Photo clips of our daily work at Antique Artistry, but to see a greater and more in depth look at work on projects, please don't miss out on the video of our Photo Clips in Motion, which is accompanied with our musical theme "Carry Me Back to Yesterdays.".

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Photo Clips in Motion

Antique Artistry / Contact us at 1-972-291-7088 or email: info@antiqartistry.com