Armand LaMontagne

Armand LaMontagne ranks as one of America's pre-eminent sculptors of celebrated personalities. LaMontagne is a graduate of Boston College. He is a self-taught artist who has honed his skills through practicing his profession. He is best recognized for his life-size wood and bronze sculptures. His significant sculptures of important personalities are sited at The Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown, New York; the New England Sports Museum, Boston, Massachusetts; the Patton Museum of Cavalry and Armor, Fort Knox, Kentucky; and the Basketball Hall of Fame, Springfield, Massachusetts

LaMontagne’s talents were brought to the national spotlight in the 1970s when he deliberately made a reproduction of a 17th century turned oak Brewster Chair (an iconic Pilgrim chair) to embarrass the “experts”. LaMontagne even soaked the chair in salt water to simulate aging. LaMontagne then gave the chair away. Eventually, the Henry Ford Museum purchased the “fake” from a dealer for $9,000. The museum was later notified of their error, when LaMontagne published an admission in the "Providence Journal".

LaMontagne has also hand built an authentic 17th-century Rhode Island house called a stone-ender in Scituate, Rhode Island.

References and external links

* [http://www.internationalsport.com/sa_hof/hof_rihonorees.html#lamontagne Institute for International Sport bio]
* [http://www.southcoasttoday.com/daily/04-97/04-30-97/b01li052.htm South Coast Article]
* [http://www.chubbcollectors.com/Vacnews/index.jsp?form=2&ArticleId=169 LaMontagne's Brewster Chair Fake]