Ruben Beltran

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Update (July, 2019)

“I learned this beautiful art of colonial furniture thanks to the tutelage of my parents; from a young age, the majority of our time together was spent in the workshop.

“The heyday in our workshop occurred during the 80s and 90s, since we were a big team. The feeling of working with people that imbued their pieces with emotion was our greatest satisfaction.

“One of the biggest challenges that we have faced is exportation; after 9/11, a lot of exportation projects that we had were not able to continue. This resulted in a strong impact on our sales. This did not stop us; on the contrary, it gave us the opportunity to fight and carry on.

“That was when we met NOVICA, who gave us the opportunity to export in a way that allowed us to continue working and innovating in our pieces. We saw magical opportunities, such as the restoration of spaces, theaters, and hotels. We created modern pieces without losing the colonial touch that so greatly characterizes us.

“For our NOVICA clients, suffice to say that each piece is made with a lot of care and passion. Each piece reflects a part of ourselves as a family and humans that love what we do.”

Original Artisan Story

"I come from a family of furniture artisans. My father suggested I try my hand at furniture design and crafting, and I liked it.

"My friends consider me a very serious person, but it's easy to make me smile. They also describe me as very secure and optimistic.

"The most difficult time in my life was when my father died because, in a way, I lost my best friend. But he taught me to face life and go on, to work with honesty and a spirit of service. As time passed, things got better.

"I hope to have a lot of work so I can support my family and also to be able to teach this craft to young people from marginalized areas who face greater economic and social challenges. My dream is to reach a ripe old age when I can devote my time to reading.

"In my workshop, we use fine woods from certified sources, and I prefer finishes that don't hide the natural wood grain and color. "What I most enjoy about this work is when an idea of mine takes shape in reality. And I like the challenge of conjugating aesthetics with functionality and good taste to please and satisfy the shopper.

"I believe that each piece has special characteristics, as a result of my inspiration, and in agreement with my mood when I create the design. I think that to be a master of our craft, we cannot resign ourselves to what we've already achieved; we must always try to surpass our achievements so that each new work is better and better.

"After my father's death, I felt alone and vulnerable because he was the one who'd obtain the materials but, little by little, with the things he taught me, I feel I am getting ahead.

"In the workshop, my mother is the administrator. My brother Francisco and my sister Maria del Refugio meet with clients. I work with our assistants, encouraging them to be patient and painstaking and to keep an open mind.

"Our designs are created with top quality wood, selected for its durability and beauty."