I learned my basic woodworking skills working with my father in his workshop, inherited my first set of tools from my grandfather Nicolo Molignano and continue a family tradition of Italian craftsmanship. Having been raised in a creative environment encouraged me to develop my own skills and artistic sensitivities, which survived a scientific Columbia University education. The many wonderful museums and galleries of my native Manhattan as well as its impressive Art Deco architecture have been a major influence on my design principals. Many years of traveling in South America, Asia and Europe presented a multifaceted vision of human creativity and culture, which inspired me to create beautiful objects with my hands.

I am a sculptor and approach wood from the perspective of a solid object that I want to shape by cutting away material to get to a desired form hidden inside with the tree as my partner in creation While living in Brazil I started making fine boxes out of solid pieces of the country's native rosewoods and have continued to do the same in my Oneonta, New York studio since 1984. I use the finest woods in the world. Each piece is designed around the qualities of the individual selection of wood as well as the characteristics of the species of timber. Careful attention is given to a smooth and harmonious flow of lines, appealing to the eye as well as the touch of the hand.

I work with my wife Fátima in my wood shop and finishing studio. We do all work from design to finish to sales. All pieces are cut out on the bandsaw with many sanding operations necessary to perfect the shape. Final refinement is done with hand shaping and sanding. In my finishing studio, lacquer is applied using a badger-hair brush and a technique that I have developed over the years. The "flowed on" finish is hand rubbed to a satin smoothness and polished. No stains are used so the dramatic grain patterns and rich colors that give each wood their unique personality can be appreciated. Felt glides are added for a smooth action on moving parts and all interiors are fully lined and pads placed on the bottoms of boxes. All woods are harvested from sustainable yield forests from around the world assuring their continued survival as well as the survival of the working people that depend on them for their livelihood.