He began his journey in woodworking at the age of 15 in the workshop of master woodcarver Azélio Leal, where he worked alongside a dozen other young men. That workshop served as his true “university” for seven years. He cherishes the memory of his master as a great man, endowed with immense humanity and mastery. At the age of 22, he established his own business and kept the workshop active for about 25 years, passing on his knowledge to various collaborators and apprentices.
He recalls the golden age when woodcarving was a pillar of the Paredes economy, with numerous specialized workshops and a strong spirit of cooperation among carvers to meet the demands of factories, which produced the famous period furniture: D. José, D. Maria, D. João V, Louis XV, and Renaissance. For him, the beauty of the art lies in the meticulous carving, in the way a flower or a tulip gains relief in the wood, appearing almost natural. Among his most significant works, he recalls with deep emotion a project he executed in partnership with his master for the Rebordosa Volunteer Firefighters Humanitarian Association, carving the institution’s symbol.
