When the producer of WGN-TV’s House Smarts program asked if they could feature our stone carving shop on an episode of the Lou Manfredini-hosted show, we said we’d be delighted! The episode’s focus was “stone carving for the home”, which is exactly what we do. It’s a great opportunity to get a little “peek behind the curtain”, and see our French Master Carver Olivier Dumont, and his team at work, and, to hear what inspires Olivier as he works with stone.
This French Limestone fireplace appeared in the Winter 2013 edition of Luxe Interiors + Design (Chicago). It was custom-designed by Tracy Hickman, principal at Hickman Design Associates, and the first designer to be inducted into the Chicago Interior Design Hall of Fame. Produced for the living room of a historic townhome that Tracy Hickman designed for her client in Chicago’s Gold Coast, the clean, cream-colored limestone works beautifully with the decor’s muted tones.
For more information on this fireplace and other Custom Stonework, please contact us.
This Moorish-style fireplace was shown in the May 2013 edition of House Beautiful. It was part of a feature article on a grand lakeshore home in Northern Michigan, designed by Martin Horner, principal at Soucie Horner, Ltd. The fireplace, made from one slab of polished 3/4″ thick Black Absolute Granite, was custom-designed by Martin Horner, to complement the Moroccan-themed decor of the house.
One of our more ornately carved limestone fireplaces was just profiled in the latest issue of Chicago’s CS Interiors Magazine.
This custom design was done for a Chicago client in our Silverdale limestone.
We are pleased to share with you one of our fireplaces that appeared in the November 2011 issue of Architectural Digest, on page 166. A customized version of our François I design from our Standard Collection, this surround was done in our Classic French Limestone for Don and Rela Gleason, owners of Summer Hill, Ltd., for their Napa Valley home.
Master stonecarver Olivier Dumont of Atelier Jouvence, a Chicago stonecarving company, was commissioned to sculpt all of the engraved signage into the limestone facade of the Art Institute of Chicago’s new Modern Wing. Because the stonework had already been installed on the building, the museum sought an artist with the artistic stonecarving skills and expertise to execute the carving on-site. Often in precarious positions, the Atelier Jouvence artisans were sometimes carving 25 to 75 feet above the ground. Carving the final, large sign on the Columbus St. side of the building required Dumont and his team to use a 100-foot aerial lift in order to complete the carving. Upon completing the lettering for the signs, the Atelier Jouvence artisans in-filled the each letter with graphite to make the signage more visible. It is extremely rewarding to be included in the craftsmanship that has gone into creating the beautiful Modern Wing at the Art Institute of Chicago’s Dumont says. We had to use great concentration and work carefully because we were carving directly into the limestone facade of the completed building. The Atelier Jouvence team worked before the museume’s operating hours in order to complete the project without disrupting Art Institute visitors.
A closeup of the facade’s carving, which consists of fifteen-inch-tall letterforms.
One of only a handful of French master stonecarvers currently working in the United States, Dumont is a native of Dijon, France. Dumont received his carving instruction and training at Lycee des Marcs D’or, a well-known stone carving school near his hometown. Dumont apprenticed and worked professionally throughout France, accumulating diverse artistry skills, reflective of each regions native stones, carving techniques, and historic inspirations. Dumont’s 18 years of professional stonecarving experience, both in France and the U.S., have comprised a wide range of carving and historic restoration projects including numerous cathedrals and other historic buildings. In addition to his mastery of stonecarving, Dumont also has extensive training in art history and interior design.
