Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - February 27, 1979, Winnipeg, Manitoba A Monipeo Ihbe press tuesday february 27, 1979 Art of woodcarving not dead Here yet by Eva Wiseman the Art of woodcarving like so Many of the skilled crafts that must be accomplished with pains taking and Loving care has been dying slowly. Few craftsmen today Are willing to spend the Long hours necessary to create exquisite furniture and cabinets and Han worked pieces. But take heart you lovers of finely finished Han worked Wood. The Art of woodcarving in t dead yet in Winnipeg. Two woodcarving Cabinet makers continue to prac Tice their Trade and a grow ing number of Winnipeg Gers Are enjoying the results of their skilled hands. The Trade is alive and Well in the hands of Lou Cramer who operates Cramer s furniture 1164 main Street and Francesco Frank Saccente who runs Naples Woodwork 1365 Richard Avenue. Fifty three years ago when he was 14, Lou Cramer joined the Furni Ture business founded by his father Philip. Four years later after the firm employed a woodcarver Lou decided to learn the Art of woodcarving himself. Through the years Lou has used visits to furniture shows and Reading Furni Ture books to come up with special designs for his customers. He s done almost All of the firm s carving for the past 50 years. On the other hand fran Cesco Frank Saccente 34, says he was born in a his father was a Cabinet maker and Sac Cente was apprenticed to a craftsman in Naples Italy. Saccente established his business two years ago with himself As sole employee. Today he employs six craftsmen and expects to do in business this year. He works 14 hours a Day seven Days a week making hand carved Kitchen cabinets Wall units China cabinets Stair posts and spindles. However he wants to Branch out to carve anything from furniture to about 75% of a Naples Woodwork Kitchen Cabinet is handmade. Saccente s designs Are All original except when a customer wants a piece of furniture duplicated from a photo in a Magazine. Most companies Cut out pieces of plywood and paste on moulding when making a Kitchen Cabinet door. As far As i am concerned that is an Amateur it takes three craftsmen from 75 to 85 hours to com plete a Kitchen unit. A Wal nut Kitchen costs about 000, while a hand carved Oak feature Wall unit is about Many of Sac Cente s contracts come from people constructing expensive custom built Homes. He credits the popularity of Antiques with creating an increasing awareness of Fine craftsmanship. Cramer makes curio cabinets and or. And mrs. Chairs and has recently completed a magnificent hand carved desk Selling for a curio Cabinet is a Good month s work for Cramer and at present he has All the business he can Han dle. In addition to his carving Cramer designs All the handmade pieces sold in his store. All upholstered furniture is made right on the premises. I used to work for the parents and grandparents of Many of my present Day Cramer says when you go into a room you can always recognize my furniture just As in the Olden Days people recognized furniture made by Chippendale. If you Are a Good craftsman people will know your work. I feel that a handmade piece of furniture is a work of both Cramer and Sac Cente employ highly skilled european craftsmen. Most of Cramer have been with him from 20 to 30 years. Photos by master woodcarver Frank Saccento of Naples Woodwork 1365 Richard Avenue checks the Progress of the kitchens he designed and made for a House on Park Boulevard. The Kitchen left shows the craftsmanship and planning that went into one of his finished kitchens. See the beam Central built in vacuum systems at the Home expression 79 show All vac systems Ltd. 86o1 Roblin blvd. Per my Bach Yartz Art n we. Wt1 Yew my h be to film mod to emf pod asian Avion commercial. Saunas spas War Doois by Gerry Cairns Lou Cramer works on an ornate China Cabinet. One piece laminate doth tub enclosure Eaty Toimi Etc Owumi ski in comen not rot or Mem of Turing deign of you prefer the House on the left you re an extraordinary person. Ours theirs l uni i Hose us i Kim be on tax. Left then you a truly an extraordinary Rivaux i Hose an extraordinary Home. Chi the in St. Settle Tor and the nest has to be different not showy or cum an Homo. A Norco Homo. Hit the a Arv xxx be quietly xxii designing Ami Hilum a extraordinary in .1 tradition at Ordinary prices. Now we have a eol Leolion of Cir Homes in tour new developments in Winnipeg. Irvn looking Lor something different then Home and see one of our show Homes. Dixie it Lor Miu self. There s Only one word thai nest describes them North kill in Nav of states Nohich i St lint. extraordinary Homo also available in Calgary ;