Abel Suroy

San Juan, Sacatepéquez

Abel Suroy, known to all as “Don Abel”, is a master woodworker whose specialty is crafting furniture from mahogany sourced in Guatemala. His work is inspired by a wide range of styles, from historical Spanish colonial friar chairs to post-modern sculptural tables.

Raised in humble origins in San Juan Sacatepéquez, Don Abel began woodworking as a young boy, carving slingshot handles from guava wood. “I used a machete to whittle and broken Coke bottle shards as makeshift sandpaper.” He convinced an uncle who worked as a carpenter to take him on as an apprentice. There, Abel learned the fundamentals of woodwork: visualization, precise measurement, sanding and assembly.

At 15, he left his home to seek his fortune in Guatemala City, where a “help wanted” ad led him to a position at one of the largest furniture manufacturers. Then, a tip from a friend in the upholstery trade connected Don Abel to the owner of Del Palomar, a high-end home goods boutique. Using only simple hand tools, and his skills of observation, he stunned the owner by completing a difficult commission of ten identical serpentine jewelry boxes.

From there, Don Abel has built his reputation for quality woodcraft and gained clients across Guatemala, including commissions from the most famous hotel in the country, Casa Santo Domingo. Through his success, he was able to purchase land surrounding his birthplace and develop it into a homestead with his own spacious workshop. Now joined by two college-educated sons, he has built a legacy for the next generation.