Wm. 'Wild Willy' Frankfort

Wild Willy Frankfort

Master Horner and Scrimshander-

-Artist, Writer, Historian, Teacher, Museum Curator…

Artist Statement:

My passion is 18th Century frontier History, particularly that of the Virginia backcountry.

I am a registered Master Horner with the Honorable Company of Horners, a Guild started in 1996 to assist and instruct artists and craftsmen in the endeavor of creating powder horns and other horn items. ( Cups, spoons, combs, boxes, etc.) I became a master in 2006 and have accumulated numerous Awards for my craft.

At my Horn Shop in West Augusta County, Virginia (Western Pennsylvania) I make a wide range of horn accoutrements I call ‘Common Goods.’ These are items that everyone of the time would (or should) have owned and carried with them. These are Horn items that are often un-engraved and mostly come in two varieties-

1. Formed- which is made by using the natural bends and shape of the cow horn. Heat may be applied to flatten or shape it, but very little work is done to complete the piece. An example would be “Cutting and cleansing the raw cow horn, wood plugs inserted into the open ends, a hole drilled into the side, and a plug inserted. The end result would be a salt or spice horn.”

2. Turned- which involves heating and making the cow horn round by inserting mandrels and then turning it round. Followed by applying raised rings and decorative chip carving to the surface of the finished piece.

The un-engraved pieces, whether they are formed or turned are still ‘common goods.’ An uncommon piece would be that which is formed or turned but decorated with relief carving or engraving, this is called Scrimshaw.

-Wild Willy