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PRESS RELEASE:
El Paso Inc
I was featured in the "El Paso Inc", September 11-17, 2005 issue in the Lifestyle section. www.elpasoinc.com
ABC7 Chicago
I was featured on ABC7 Chicago News in a feature "Someone You Should Know" June 27th 2006, Presented by Harry Porterfield. You can watch the video /text by Clicking Here
The Magazine Antiques
I was featured in the September 2006 "The Magazine Antiques", Design Notes, page 144. Advertisement page 72. www.themagazineantiques.com
Resume of Michael Walton
Personal Details
Name: Michael Walton
Address: Chicago, IL 60641. USA
Telephone/Fax:
Email:
Date-of-birth: 1966
Education
1985 - 1988 R. McDonnell Antiques, 16 Kildare Street, Dublin 2. Completed apprenticeship, specialising in Antique Furniture Restoration and reproduction of antique pieces.
1984 - 1985 ANCO Training Centre, Cookstown Industrial Estate, Tallaght, Dublin 24. One year off the job intensive training (first year of apprenticeship).
1984 - 1988 Apprentice Cabinet-Maker / Chair-Maker Day Release - Attended College of Trades, Linenhall, Yarnhall Street, Dublin 1.
Up to 1983 Terenure College, Terenure, Dublin 6. Junior and Secondary school education.
Qualifications
Cabinet-Maker / Chair-Maker - 4 year apprenticeship
1989 National Craft Certificate (Internationally recognised) Issued by FAS - An Foras Aiseanna Saothair (The Training and employment Authority) on completion of Junior and Senior Trade Certificate and on completion of the 4-year term of apprenticeship.
Secondary School 1983
Intermediate Certificate
Achievements
International Guild of Miniature Artisans IGMA, P.O. Box 629, Freedom, CA 95019-0629, USA.
1996 Achieved Artisan Status (USA)
To achieve artisan status it was necessary for me to submit three pieces of my finest miniature furniture for assessment. The artisan committee then assesses the furniture. Only work of the highest quality is awarded artisan status.
National Apprentice Competition - Run and sponsored by FAS and the Furniture Industry
1988 National Apprentice Competition - 3rd Place
1987 National Apprentice Competition - 5th Place
The National Apprentice Competition is run by FAS annually to find the best skilled Cabinet-Making Apprentice, the winner then going forward to participate in the Skills Olympics, which is hosted by a different country annually. I was selected on my grades during training. The final involves making a difficult piece of furniture from a drawing involving many joints and techniques. Experienced instructors and craftsmen from industry then judge and assess the finished piece. My final took place at the National Furniture Exhibition in The Royal Dublin Society, which adds a lot of extra pressure.
Work Experience
1985 - 1993 R. McDonnell Antiques, 16 Kildare Street, Dublin 2. Ireland Ron McDonnell was founder and President of the Irish Antique Dealers Association until his death in 1993.
Conservation and Restoration of 18th and 19th Century Fine Furniture
I worked on many fine Irish pieces of furniture by Dublin makers Moore, Butler and Hicks, English and European Furniture based on designs by Sheraton, Hepplewhite, Chippendale and Boulle. The work involved the use of traditional techniques using matching old period wood when necessary, taking care not to detract from the value and quality of the piece. Damaged or missing veneers are delicately replaced using animal glue, the piece finally been prepared for final hand French polishing and waxing, in accord with fashion of the past.
Reproduction & Replica Furniture
I have made many replica pieces of furniture using old materials for that antique look and feel, making it difficult to differentiate between the old and new. I have made many Side, Sofa and Pembroke Tables and Chairs to add to existing sets of chairs.
1993 - 2009 Self Employed.
Restoration and Conservation of Antique Furniture I restore 18th and 19th Furniture for private clients, state homes and antique dealers. Clients include President of Ireland, Official Residence of the President, at Aras an Uachtarain. I restored many pieces for the residence, which included a desk by Hicks now used for official occasions. I also restored a number of chairs by Butler of Dublin (Butlers furnished the residence, then the Vice Regal Lodge, in 1903 prior to the visit of Queen Victoria)
Other clients include Malahide Castle, Newbridge House now owned by Dublin City Council. I also restored a Sheraton Centre Table for Russborough House, residence of Sir Alfred and Lady Beit. The Beit family have an extensive art collection, which they have donated to the state.
Irish and English Dolls House Miniature Collectible Furniture in 1/12th scale.
I make this furniture using traditional methods, materials and finishes. Mahogany is inlaid to the finest detail using the finest of tools and finished using traditional French Polishing techniques. Reproduction handles and brass fittings are handcrafted either by myself or other specialists.
Clients
My miniature furniture can be found in many private collections all around the world in the USA, Ireland, Switzerland, UK, Australia, Germany, Holland and Israel. My work is also exhibited in Museums and sold in Specialist Dolls House Shops and I sell at Dolls House Fairs in the USA that I attend.
Museums
The Carole and Barry Kaye Museum of Miniatures, 5900 Wilshire Boulevard, CA 90036. USA
Taras Palace Museum, Malahide Castle, Malahide, Co. Dublin. Ireland
Mount Vernon in Miniature, George Washington's Estate and Gardens, now on tour in USA.
The International Guild of Miniature Artisans included some of my furniture in an exhibition "The Elements of Style" which visited many states, which included PA, WI, TX, IN, NY and ME.
Dolls House Fairs that I have been invited to exhibit my Collectable Miniature Furniture:
I have attended the Chicago International Dolls House Fair in April 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, April & August 2002.
IGMA, P.O. Box 629, Freedom, CA 95019-0629. USA. IGMA hold their show annually in New York every April. I attended this fair in April 1999.
Philadelphia Miniaturia, P.O. Box 518, Langhorne, PA 19047, USA. Held annually in November. I attended this fair in November 2000 and attending this November 2002.
The London Dollshouse Festival, 25 Priory Road, Kew Green, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3DQ, England. Held annually in May and attending this fair since 1994
Miniatura, 41 Eastbourne Avenue, Birmingham, B34 6AR. England Held in March and September in Birmingham. Also held in Glasgow in June. Attending Miniatura since 1995
CIMTA INC, 120 Round Trail Road, West Seneca, NY 14218, USA. Held in Las Vegas in January and Arlington VA in June. I attended this fair in January 2003 for the first time.
Commissioned Pieces made to Order
As well as making and selling my exclusive reproduction miniature furniture designs, I also make miniature pieces scaled from unique originals in the possession of the client.
I was also commissioned to reproduce a Pembroke Table from photographs of an original from the home of George Washington, Mount Vernon. Mount Vernon has been completely reproduced in miniature and it is now touring the USA.
1999 - 2002
Instructor - Part Time Instructor for Cabinet Making Apprentices. Teaching apprentices all aspects of the trade from correct use of hand tools to the using of machinery in the making of reproduction and modern furniture from drawings. Some class work is involved which involves the teaching of theory and technical drawing associated with the trade. The apprentices would draw the project, prepare a cutting list and then proceed to make the project. I would then assess the completed projects and the grade would be part of their final assessment.
2008-2009
Instructor - Teaching woodwork at USW ArcelorMittal Career Development Center, a further education center for workers in the steel industry at Burns Harbor Indiana. I am teaching Traditional Woodworking Techniques and making of Dollhouses, 2-3 days a week.
Acknowledgements
Many articles about my miniature work have been published in specialist Dolls House magazines in the USA, UK and Spain.
USA - Nutshell News, November 1996, page 38.
UK - Dolls House World, October 1999, page 8.
UK - Dolls' House, April 2001, page 35. Spain - MuneCas, No 21, page 26.
Jean Nisbett has also featured me in her book "Dolls House Makeovers" published in the UK. Dolls House Ireland has also been featured in many Irish Newspapers and my furniture was also featured on TV - The Late Late Show on two occasions, a special programme for new and innovative enterprises. The presenter Gay Byrne showed described a number of my pieces of Miniature Furniture. My Furniture was also shown on the afternoon show "Live At Three" in conjunction with Tara's Palace Exhibit prior to going on public exhibition in Malahide Castle, Dublin.
Associations
Member of IGMA International Guild of Miniature Artisans USA - achieved ARTISAN status.