Woodcarving: otters

Woodcarving: otters

Brasstown Carvers

Handicraft

John C. Campbell Folk School

Wood-carving -- Appalachian Region, Southern

Woodwork -- Appalachian Region, Southern

This grouping of otters, carved by W. J. Martin, is made from apple wood. The figures are sanded to a smooth finish, typical of the folk school carvings. Carving well before the school's formal carving program was started, it may well be that Martin's work served as a model for the style of folk school carvings. W. J. Martin (1863-1950) was born William Julius, but everyone called him “W. J.” He was a woodcarver and wood turner and, like most craftsmen who worked during the Craft Revival, he was also a farmer. He lived in Cherokee County in the Martin’s Creek community, near Brasstown. Martin made all of his cash income from carving in 1932 and expected to do the same the following year. Still carving in 1942, he was listed on the carving sales roster as having sold $46 worth of carvings.

Brasstown Carvers

Martin, W. J. (William Julius), 1863-1950

Artifact Collection

Hunter Library Digital Collections, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC 28723

1930/1950

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/

jpg

crafts (art genres)

StillImage

14916

https://southernappalachiandigitalcollections.org/object/14916

2007-10-08

All rights reserved. For permissions and use, contact John C. Campbell Folk School, Brasstown, NC 28902;

Cherokee County (N.C.)

Appalachian Region, Southern

2" x 10" x 8"(dimension)

Craft Revival