Philip Simmons
Encyclopedia
Philip Simmons was an American
artisan
and blacksmith
specializing in the craft of ironwork
. Simmons spent 77 years as a blacksmith, focusing on decorative iron work. When he began his career, blacksmiths in Charleston made practical, everyday household objects, such as horseshoes
. By the time he retired 77 years later, the craft was considered as art form rather than a practical profession.
Examples of Simmons' work, including iron gate
s, can be seen throughout the city of Charleston, South Carolina
, as well as the rest of South Carolina Lowcountry
. His pieces are displayed at the Smithsonian Museum, South Carolina State Museum
, and even Paris, France, and China
.
, South Carolina
. He was raised by his grandparents, before being sent to Charleston in 1920 to live with his mother when he was 8 years old.
Simmons resided on Vernon Street and enrolled in school at the Buist Elementary School, which is now known as the Buist Academy
. Later in his life, Simmons would design and create the iron arch which now stands over the school's entry gate.
Simmons became interested in the craftspeople who lived in his neighborhood, and soon began visiting various workshops near his home. In particular, Simmons became interested in a smithy on Charlotte Street run by Peter Simmons, who was not related to Philip. Phillip Simmons soon quit school and began an apprenticeship
with Peter Simmons, a former slave, when he was 13 years old. He became a full blacksmith when he was 18 years old, after a five year apprenticeship.
Simmons began working with ornamental and decorative ironwork in 1938 at his own blacksmith shop.
In the early 1940s, Simmons began working with a Charleston businessman named Jack Krawcheck. Krawcheck commissioned a wrought iron
gate for the rear of his store, which was located on King Street. However, Simmons had to create the gate out of scrap iron because the demand for iron during World War II made it impossible to acquire new iron
. This was the first iron gate that Simmons ever crafted and delivered to a customer. The Krawcheck family would ultimately acquire more than 30 iron pieces from Simmons during his career.
Though he had begun working on ornamental ironwork in 1938, the Krawcheck gate marked a turning point in Simmons' career as an iron artisan. Over the course of his seven decades long career, Simmons created over 500 separate pieces, including iron balconies, window grills, fence
s and gate
s. For example, Simmons forged
and designed five iron gates along Stolls Alley in Charleston alone.
Simmons also created smaller, metal
objects to supplement his income, including tools, shutter dog and fireplace pokers. In 1970, Simmons created a rather unusual cup holder
for a Volvo
, which was crafted from coat hanger.
Most of his work was created at his workshop at his home on Blake Street.
and professor
of American studies
at George Washington University
, penned a biography of Simmons and his work in a 1981 book entitled, "Charleston Blacksmith, The Work of Philips Simmons." The book was re-released as a second, updated edition eleven years later. In a separate essay called, "The Buildings of Charleston," Vlach later wrote of Simmons' career, "At the outset of his career he took orders; now he gives them...In the midst of his time-bound trade and even while preserving the historic appearance of Charleston, he remains his own man. He has found self-expression in the communal tradition."
The National Endowment for the Arts
bestowed Simmons with a National Heritage Fellowship
in 1982. During his acceptance speech at the ceremony, which Simmons gave following a performance by a blues
group, Simmons remarked, "My instrument
is an anvil
. I guess some of you have heard me play ... a tune on the anvil, the old blacksmith tune
. ... I'm proud of that anvil, really proud. ... That anvil fed me when I was hungry and that anvil clothed me when I was naked. That anvil put shoes on my feet."
Although he officially retired at age 75, Simmons continued to teach his craft to younger artisans late into his life. In 1991, his friends formed the Philip Simmons Foundation, a nonprofit organization to develop and maintain the garden commemorating his work on the grounds of his church, St. John’s Reformed Episcopal Church, in downtown Charleston, South Carolina
.
A documentary on Philip’s life titled “Keeper of The Gate” won the 1995 Southern Emmy Award in the category of Cultural Documentary. It was written and directed by David Flander. David and Philip struck a friendship during filming and remained friends. They would go to local Charleston sporting events together, where Philip was often recognized in the stands by his many fans.
from the National Endowment for the Arts
(NEA), which the highest honor the United States
can bestow on a traditional artist. On January 31, 1994, he was inducted into the South Carolina Hall of Fame.
South Carolina Governor David Beasley
bestowed the Order of the Palmetto
, the state's highest honor on Simmons in 1998. He was later awarded the Elizabeth O’Neill Verner Governor’s Award for “Lifetime Achievement in the Arts“ in May 2001. He was also honored by the South Carolina Legislature for his work.
Simmons was survived by his daughter, Lillian Gilliam; his son, Philip Simmons, Jr.; a sister, Rebecca Comings; 16 grandchildren, and many great and great, great grandchildren.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
artisan
Artisan
An artisan is a skilled manual worker who makes items that may be functional or strictly decorative, including furniture, clothing, jewellery, household items, and tools...
and blacksmith
Blacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
specializing in the craft of ironwork
Ironwork
Ironwork is any weapon, artwork, utensil or architectural feature made of iron especially used for decoration. There are two main types of ironwork wrought iron and cast iron. While the use of iron dates as far back as 4000BC, it was the Hittites who first knew how to extract it and develop weapons...
. Simmons spent 77 years as a blacksmith, focusing on decorative iron work. When he began his career, blacksmiths in Charleston made practical, everyday household objects, such as horseshoes
Horseshoes
Horseshoes is an outdoor game played between two people using four horseshoes and two throwing targets set in a sandbox area. The game is played by the players alternating turns tossing horseshoes at stakes in the ground, which are traditionally placed 40 feet apart...
. By the time he retired 77 years later, the craft was considered as art form rather than a practical profession.
Examples of Simmons' work, including iron gate
Iron Gate
Iron Gate can refer to* Gates of Alexander, iron gates built by Alexander the Great* Iron Gates , a pass through the Bibans mountains in Algeria* Iron Gate Pass, a gorge in central Xinjiang, People's Republic of China...
s, can be seen throughout the city of Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, as well as the rest of South Carolina Lowcountry
South Carolina Lowcountry
The Lowcountry is a geographic and cultural region located along South Carolina's coast. The region includes the South Carolina Sea Islands...
. His pieces are displayed at the Smithsonian Museum, South Carolina State Museum
South Carolina State Museum
The South Carolina State Museum, located in Columbia, South Carolina, is the largest museum in the Southeastern United States. Positioned on an old shipping canal on the Congaree River that dates back to pre-Civil War times, the museum is widely recognized as a resource for South Carolina history...
, and even Paris, France, and China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
.
Biography
Philip Simmons was born on June 9, 1912, in Daniel IslandDaniel Island
Daniel Island is a island located in the City of Charleston, South Carolina . It is located in Berkely County and situated between the Cooper and Wando Rivers...
, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. He was raised by his grandparents, before being sent to Charleston in 1920 to live with his mother when he was 8 years old.
Simmons resided on Vernon Street and enrolled in school at the Buist Elementary School, which is now known as the Buist Academy
Buist Academy
Buist Academy for Advanced Studies is a K-8 public school located in Charleston, South Carolina, United States.Buist is a magnet school, meaning entrance exams are required to get into the school. The Charleston County School District operates Buist Academy...
. Later in his life, Simmons would design and create the iron arch which now stands over the school's entry gate.
Simmons became interested in the craftspeople who lived in his neighborhood, and soon began visiting various workshops near his home. In particular, Simmons became interested in a smithy on Charlotte Street run by Peter Simmons, who was not related to Philip. Phillip Simmons soon quit school and began an apprenticeship
Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship is a system of training a new generation of practitioners of a skill. Apprentices or protégés build their careers from apprenticeships...
with Peter Simmons, a former slave, when he was 13 years old. He became a full blacksmith when he was 18 years old, after a five year apprenticeship.
Simmons began working with ornamental and decorative ironwork in 1938 at his own blacksmith shop.
In the early 1940s, Simmons began working with a Charleston businessman named Jack Krawcheck. Krawcheck commissioned a wrought iron
Wrought iron
thumb|The [[Eiffel tower]] is constructed from [[puddle iron]], a form of wrought ironWrought iron is an iron alloy with a very low carbon...
gate for the rear of his store, which was located on King Street. However, Simmons had to create the gate out of scrap iron because the demand for iron during World War II made it impossible to acquire new iron
Iron
Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is the most common element forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust...
. This was the first iron gate that Simmons ever crafted and delivered to a customer. The Krawcheck family would ultimately acquire more than 30 iron pieces from Simmons during his career.
Though he had begun working on ornamental ironwork in 1938, the Krawcheck gate marked a turning point in Simmons' career as an iron artisan. Over the course of his seven decades long career, Simmons created over 500 separate pieces, including iron balconies, window grills, fence
Fence
A fence is a freestanding structure designed to restrict or prevent movement across a boundary. It is generally distinguished from a wall by the lightness of its construction: a wall is usually restricted to such barriers made from solid brick or concrete, blocking vision as well as passage .Fences...
s and gate
Gate
A gate is a point of entry to a space enclosed by walls, or a moderately sized opening in a fence. Gates may prevent or control entry or exit, or they may be merely decorative. Other terms for gate include yett and port...
s. For example, Simmons forged
Forged
Forged is a book written by biblical scholar, Bart D. Ehrman which attempts to analyze the historical accuracy of the Christian Bible. The book posits that 11 or more books out of the 27 books of the Christian New Testament canon were written as certain types of forgeries related to the politics...
and designed five iron gates along Stolls Alley in Charleston alone.
Simmons also created smaller, metal
Metal
A metal , is an element, compound, or alloy that is a good conductor of both electricity and heat. Metals are usually malleable and shiny, that is they reflect most of incident light...
objects to supplement his income, including tools, shutter dog and fireplace pokers. In 1970, Simmons created a rather unusual cup holder
Cup holder
A cup holder is a device to hold a cup or other drinking vessel. It is a fixture in automobiles, trains, and other vehicles, as well as in some movie theatres, sports arenas, etc.- Automobiles :...
for a Volvo
Volvo
AB Volvo is a Swedish builder of commercial vehicles, including trucks, buses and construction equipment. Volvo also supplies marine and industrial drive systems, aerospace components and financial services...
, which was crafted from coat hanger.
Most of his work was created at his workshop at his home on Blake Street.
Recognition
John Michael Vlach, an authorAuthor
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of American studies
American studies
American studies or American civilization is an interdisciplinary field dealing with the study of the United States. It traditionally incorporates the study of history, literature, and critical theory, but also includes fields as diverse as law, art, the media, film, religious studies, urban...
at George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
, penned a biography of Simmons and his work in a 1981 book entitled, "Charleston Blacksmith, The Work of Philips Simmons." The book was re-released as a second, updated edition eleven years later. In a separate essay called, "The Buildings of Charleston," Vlach later wrote of Simmons' career, "At the outset of his career he took orders; now he gives them...In the midst of his time-bound trade and even while preserving the historic appearance of Charleston, he remains his own man. He has found self-expression in the communal tradition."
The National Endowment for the Arts
National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created by an act of the U.S. Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. Its current...
bestowed Simmons with a National Heritage Fellowship
National Heritage Fellowship
The National Heritage Fellowship is a lifetime honor presented to master folk and traditional artists by the National Endowment for the Arts. Similar to Japan's Living National Treasure award, the Fellowship is the United States' highest honor in the folk and traditional arts...
in 1982. During his acceptance speech at the ceremony, which Simmons gave following a performance by a blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
group, Simmons remarked, "My instrument
Musical instrument
A musical instrument is a device created or adapted for the purpose of making musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates back to the...
is an anvil
Anvil
An anvil is a basic tool, a block with a hard surface on which another object is struck. The inertia of the anvil allows the energy of the striking tool to be transferred to the work piece. In most cases the anvil is used as a forging tool...
. I guess some of you have heard me play ... a tune on the anvil, the old blacksmith tune
Tune
Tune may refer to:* A melody* A tune-family* A tune , a short piece of instrumental music, usually with repeating sections, and often played a number of times* British slang term, often said when referring to a piece of music that is enjoyed...
. ... I'm proud of that anvil, really proud. ... That anvil fed me when I was hungry and that anvil clothed me when I was naked. That anvil put shoes on my feet."
Although he officially retired at age 75, Simmons continued to teach his craft to younger artisans late into his life. In 1991, his friends formed the Philip Simmons Foundation, a nonprofit organization to develop and maintain the garden commemorating his work on the grounds of his church, St. John’s Reformed Episcopal Church, in downtown Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
.
A documentary on Philip’s life titled “Keeper of The Gate” won the 1995 Southern Emmy Award in the category of Cultural Documentary. It was written and directed by David Flander. David and Philip struck a friendship during filming and remained friends. They would go to local Charleston sporting events together, where Philip was often recognized in the stands by his many fans.
Awards
In 1982, Simmons received a National Heritage FellowshipNational Heritage Fellowship
The National Heritage Fellowship is a lifetime honor presented to master folk and traditional artists by the National Endowment for the Arts. Similar to Japan's Living National Treasure award, the Fellowship is the United States' highest honor in the folk and traditional arts...
from the National Endowment for the Arts
National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created by an act of the U.S. Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. Its current...
(NEA), which the highest honor the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
can bestow on a traditional artist. On January 31, 1994, he was inducted into the South Carolina Hall of Fame.
South Carolina Governor David Beasley
David Beasley
David Muldrow Beasley is a Republican who served one term as the 113th Governor of South Carolina from 1995 until 1999....
bestowed the Order of the Palmetto
Order of the Palmetto
The Order of the Palmetto is the highest civilian honor awarded by the Governor of South Carolina. It is awarded to persons who make contributions of statewide significance. An auxiliary honor is "The Order of the Silver Crescent." Today it is awarded to persons who make community or professional...
, the state's highest honor on Simmons in 1998. He was later awarded the Elizabeth O’Neill Verner Governor’s Award for “Lifetime Achievement in the Arts“ in May 2001. He was also honored by the South Carolina Legislature for his work.
List of awards
- 1982, National Endowment for the ArtsNational Endowment for the ArtsThe National Endowment for the Arts is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created by an act of the U.S. Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. Its current...
, National Heritage FellowshipNational Heritage FellowshipThe National Heritage Fellowship is a lifetime honor presented to master folk and traditional artists by the National Endowment for the Arts. Similar to Japan's Living National Treasure award, the Fellowship is the United States' highest honor in the folk and traditional arts... - 1982, Lifetime Achievement Award, South Carolina General AssemblySouth Carolina General AssemblyThe South Carolina General Assembly, also called the South Carolina Legislature, is the state legislature of the U.S. state of South Carolina. The legislature is bicameral and consists of the lower South Carolina House of Representatives and the upper South Carolina Senate. Altogether, the General...
for "lifetime achievement" and commissions for public sculptureSculptureSculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
s by the South Carolina State MuseumSouth Carolina State MuseumThe South Carolina State Museum, located in Columbia, South Carolina, is the largest museum in the Southeastern United States. Positioned on an old shipping canal on the Congaree River that dates back to pre-Civil War times, the museum is widely recognized as a resource for South Carolina history...
and the city of Charleston - 1994, South Carolina Hall of Fame, Myrtle Beach, South CarolinaMyrtle Beach, South CarolinaMyrtle Beach is a coastal city on the east coast of the United States in Horry County, South Carolina. It is situated on the center of a large and continuous stretch of beach known as the Grand Strand in northeastern South Carolina. It is considered to be a major tourist destination in the...
- 1998, Order of the PalmettoOrder of the PalmettoThe Order of the Palmetto is the highest civilian honor awarded by the Governor of South Carolina. It is awarded to persons who make contributions of statewide significance. An auxiliary honor is "The Order of the Silver Crescent." Today it is awarded to persons who make community or professional...
, the highest civilian award given in South Carolina, by GovernorGovernorA governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
David BeasleyDavid BeasleyDavid Muldrow Beasley is a Republican who served one term as the 113th Governor of South Carolina from 1995 until 1999.... - 2001, Elizabeth O'Neill VernerElizabeth O'Neill VernerElizabeth O'Neill Verner was an artist, author and lecturer from Charleston, South Carolina. Her etchings, drypoints and pastels of Charleston are her best known works...
Governor's Award for "Lifetime Achievement in the Arts"
Later life
Simmons moved from his home to the Bishop Gadsden Retirement Community in Charleston in the spring of 2008. He died there on June 22, 2009, at 9 P.M. at the age of 97.Simmons was survived by his daughter, Lillian Gilliam; his son, Philip Simmons, Jr.; a sister, Rebecca Comings; 16 grandchildren, and many great and great, great grandchildren.