William Plummer

William M. Plummer (1873–1943) was an African American cabinetmaker and inventor from Smyth County, Virginia.[1] His decorative work is part of both the tradition of American decorative arts[2] and of African American folk art.[3]

For other uses, see William Plummer (disambiguation).

Early life and education

William M. Plummer, commonly known as "Bill", was born to Claiburn and Seenah Plummer of Marion, Virginia. In 1897 he married Magdalene Floyd and they moved to Jeffersonville, Virginia. Bill and Magdalene started a family in Jeffersonville while he worked as a sawmill engineer.[4]

Career
Victrola Cabinet, William Plummer, Philadelphia Museum of Art

Bill spent most of his life in Smyth County with his wife and family, where he worked as a machinist in the automobile industry. While working he also built bicycles, a motorcycle, an airplane, furniture,[1] an elaborately decorated phonograph cabinet[2] and a banjo decorated with stars.[1][5]

The elaborate phonograph cabinet which he created is in the permanent collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.[2] Made for personal use, it is estimated to contain more than 300 pieces of wood. The carvings combine emblems from Southern folk art such as hands, hearts, vines and stars, with stylized versions of the Victor Talking Machine's dog mascot Nipper. It was even mentioned in his obituary.[6][3]

References
  1. White, Betsy (July 31, 2013). "Back Country Makers: William M. Plummer". A! Magazine for the Arts. 23 (3).
  2. Shaw, Gwendolyn DuBois; Powell, Richard J. (2015). Represent 200 Years of African American Art in the Philadelphia Museum of Art. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press. p. 26. ISBN 9780300208009.
  3. Arnett, Paul; Arnett, William (2000). Souls Grown Deep, Vol. 1: African American Vernacular Art of the South: The Tree Gave the Dove a Leaf (1st ed.). Atlanta, Ga.: Tinwood Books. p. 55. ISBN 978-0965376600.
  4. White, Betsy K. (2013). Backcountry makers : an artisan history of Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee (1st ed.). University of Tennessee Press. ISBN 9781572338760.
  5. White, Betsy K. (2006). Great Road Style: the Decorative Arts Legacy of Southwest Virginia & Northeast Tennessee. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press. ISBN 978-0813923529.
  6. Howard, Sherry. "Victrola cabinet carved by African American hands". Auction Finds. Retrieved January 12, 2015.


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