Metal ginseng sculpture and signs at Coffman's Metals in Birch River

Identifier:

4224.CoffmansMetalsGinseng.Photo.017.9.15.19

Title:

Metal ginseng sculpture and signs at Coffman's Metals in Birch River

Date:

2019-09-15

Creator:

Hilliard, Emily

Description:

Tony Coffman is the owner of Coffmans Metals, LLC in Birch River, West Virginia, which specializing in the buying and selling of ginseng and other wild herbs and roots, scrap metal, recyclables, and furs. A licensed ginseng dealer, Coffman began digging ginseng when he was a teenager for extra pocket money. Coffman inherited the business in 1987 from his grandfather Guy Coffman.These photos and related interviews were conducted in collaboration with the Smithsonian Folklife Festivals 2020 festival program on American ginseng. Learn more: https://festival.si.edu/blog/west-virginia-ginseng-trade

Subject:

American ginseng, American ginseng industry, Metal sculpture, American, Painted signs and signboards

Rights:

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Location:

Nicholas County (W. Va.), Birch River (W. Va.)

Format:

image/tiff

Source:

A&M 4224, West Virginia Folklife Program Collection