Copper: bowl and letter opener

Copper: bowl and letter opener

Copperwork

Handicraft

Metal-work

This undated photograph, by an unknown photographer, depicts a bowl and letter opener that are believed to have been made by Arch Miller. Both are hammered from sheet copper; the bowl was folded upward and inward to create its rounded shape. Although not visible in the photograph, the letter opener is incised with a peace pipe design. Arch Miller belonged to the Western Band of Cherokee Indians and was an honorary member of the Eastern Band. A veteran, Miller worked as a nurse's aid at Cherokee Indian Hospital for many years. Like many returning from World War II, Miller was able to take advantage of training. He studied metalworking with Polish-born smith Teofil Sneigocki. Miller worked at his craft part-time, during off hours from his job at the hospital. His metal shop was located in the Yellowhill community on the Qualla Boundary, where he produced work in both iron and copper. He made a variety of tools, kitchen implements, and decorative items. Miller was known for making the metal armor used by actors representing De Soto's soldiers in the original "Unto These Hills" drama. He was a member of the Qualla Arts and Crafts artisan cooperative in Cherokee.

Miller, Arch

Unknown

Photograph Collection

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

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

jpg;

photographs

StillImage

15633

https://southernappalachiandigitalcollections.org/object/15633

2009-01-27

All rights reserved. For permissions and use, contact Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual, Inc., Cherokee, NC 28719;

Qualla Boundary

Appalachian Region, Southern

4" x 5"(dimension)

Craft Revival