Some of my earliest memories are from time spent with my brothers, watching my father, Marcien Plante, as he worked in the family’s cabinetmaking and furniture shop in Sherbrook, Quebec. In 1962, with the hope of finding greater opportunities, he moved our family and his business to Waterbury, CT. It was there that he gradually instilled in me the knowledge of woodworking, and a respect for the craftsmanship of cabinetmaking and fine furniture restoration.

 

The hands-on experience given to me by my father was formalized by my subsequent training in, and graduation from, the carpentry program at Kaynor Technical school in Waterbury. During this time, my father allowed me to assist with some of his work, and by the time I was fifteen, I was working with him after school, honing my skills as a woodworker and finisher.

 

After graduation, my interests gravitated to the art of antique furniture restoration. While assisting my father, I also began working for several old-world master furniture restorers in Woodbury, CT—at the time the antique capital of Connecticut. During most of the 1980s, I worked full time within the Woodbury antiques community. Working for and alongside these craftsmen, I mastered all facets of the trade, learning gilding, wood carving, period appropriate finishing techniques—including French polish finishes—and the craft of making antique reproductions.

 

After more than a decade developing my craft under the tutelage of the Woodbury masters, I decided in 1990 to start a part-time restoration business on my own. Because I am blessed by a loyal customer base, I have been able to grow my business into a full-time profession, and I was able to purchase a commercial building in the small town of Thomaston, CT. Nestled in the Litchfield Hills, it is now home to a full service restoration shop.

 

The people who taught me—from my father, to my teachers, to the masters that I was fortunate to work with—imparted upon me a respect for the craft and a knowledge that each piece, whether a treasured family heirloom or valuable collectible, is unique and deserving of individual attention in order to bring out its original beauty, while preserving its integrity and value. Through my restoration efforts as a modern day craftsman, I am committed to bringing forth the beauty and value created by earlier craftsmen.

 

I look forward to meeting and working with you to bring renewed life to your favorite pieces.