I came across an image of a hand-carved crucifix that caught my eye. it had rough craved ribs and was painted in a haphazard fashion and adorned with human hair. The photo made it look small and intimate but it was huge, about eight feet tall and four feet wide. It would be a truly dynamic thing to see. I knew nothing of its maker, Chester Cornett. This wild expression, while effecting in its presence, didn’t give me any real idea of the story behind the name or of the nature of his true special talent.
You see, Chester Cornett was born and raised as a traditional chairmaker from the hills of Kentucky, learning at the knees of his grandfather and father. He was born in 1912 and died in 1981, living a life filled with hardship as the world surged progressively into the modern era, moving further and further away from the need for the handmade. But Chester persisted, perhaps because he knew no other way or because his special talent, his genius, was too great to forsake.
He made all sorts of chairs, simply built traditional chairs and rockers. But it was when he moved beyond that form that his genius manifested itself. Folding chairs with eight legs. Rocking chairs with bookcases built around them. They were masterfully crafted with innovative joinery and intricate engineering. Just amazing creations.
I’m just learning about Chester Cornett so I’m not going into much depth here. There’s not a wealth of info out there outside of a film, Handcarved, from 1981, and a book that features him among other mountain craftsmen, Craftsmen of the Cumberlands. But I find his work and his life captivating. There’s something special in seeing ingenuity show itself in unlikely places and conditions. And Cornett seems to me an unlikely genius that deserves greater examination.
I like this exchange from the book, Craftsmen of the Cumberlands:
“Do you think it takes a special talent to be a chairmaker?” I asked Chester.
“I don’t b’lieve so,” he said.
“You think anybody could be a chairmaker?”
“No, I don’t b’lieve just anybody could… too hard a work.”
“Does it take some special skill?”
“Yes sir, it does. It takes a skill specially for, uh, you got to learn how to use that drawin’ knife—use it just right to take off hick’ry bark with or whatever you’re making.” (Though other chairmakers used a drawing knife much less frequently and for fewer tasks than Chester did.)
“Can anyone learn how to use a drawing knife?”
“I’d say so, excepting uh, you got to learn to get interested in anything to learn it… you have to learn to get interested in a thing like that before you could learn it. And anyway, I b’lieve anyone could learn how to use a drawin’ knife and do that work.”
“Anybody could learn how to be a chairmaker, then?”
“Well, yes, they could, but they’d have to learn to be interested in that first.”
Maybe that’s the whole point of life– finding that thing that we can learn to be interested in.
Redtree Times 
The plain wisdom of that is terrific.
The key to a satisfying life: find out what you can learn to be interested in. (Not as easy as it sounds.)
It’s a good thing you didn’t go into much depth. There’s enough here for a lifetime of pondering.
“You got to learn to get interested” – there it is. The phrase that could put a whole lot of therapists out of business if their clients took it seriously.
Watch the DVD by Appleshop of the complete process of Chester making a chair. It is amazing.
Yes, I should have mentioned that film. You can see excerpts online at vimeo. Pretty remarkable stuff.
Chester Cornett was my Grandfathers Uncle. In the movie, you hear him mention his nephews Dock and Duke coming to get him. Dock is my Grandfather.
That’s pretty cool.
jodie you may know me or not my name is terry cornett chester is supposed to be my uncle my father is edward cornett i knew doc and his wife and matt who worked for the city of greendale i was on the fire rescue there my brother is butch cornett can you tell me more about chesters dad and grandfathher i have no record of that area i think chester is my half uncle same dad different mom which would be my grandfather auther cornett please email me back
The last person he taught his talents to was his great nephew…Chester said he was the only one who would carry on the tradition..,Joe Boggs is now making chairs
I am glad to hear that his work carries on. What a great tradition to hold on to. Thanks for the info. I’ll be sure to look into Joe’s work.
diana my name is terry cornett where is joe doing this work im glad he has carried on uncle chesters work i would appreciate some more info onchesters mom and dad and grandfather can you help
The photo above of the snake chair and Chester Cornett was taken by Dick Garrett, a photographer for the former Citizen Journal Newspaper in Columbus, Ohio. Dick gave me the photo over 30 years ago. I loaned a copy to Michael Owen Jones for an article printed in The Western Folklore Society periodical in 94 or 95. Somehow it was reprinted without permission by an encyclopedia that stated Chester was born in West Virginia. This is incorrect information. Chester Cornett was born in Kentucky.
Thanks for clearing that up. My source had Mr. Cornett as being from Kentucky. I couldn’t find the source for the photo so I am glad that Mr.Garrett gets acknowledged here.
I just saw the “Snake Chair” on Antiques Roadshow last night. How absolutely gorgeous and interesting! The appraiser said a couple of times that Mr. Cornett was from Dwarf County, KY. Since I live in KY and know there is no Dwarf County, I can only assume Mr. Cornett was from the area of Dwarf in Perry County. BTW, the man who owns the chair said his wife didn’t like it so he kept it in his basement. After the Roadshow I’ll bet he over rules her and puts it in a place of honor in his home!
Jan I think you misunderstood, D.Butcher purchased the chair from Mr. Garrett. Mr. Garrett’s wife did not like the chair. I am D. Butcher’s wife and I love the chair. It is not in our basement but at the Kentucky Folk Art Center located at Morehead State. It will be on display with some of Chester’s best work until August. From there the Chester Cornett Exhibit will travel to four other museums. The Smithsonian has contacted the director of the KFAC about a possible loan of the snake chair for an exhibit at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. My husband is also from Kentucky and believes Chester Cornett is one of the great American Folk Artists. We are happy you appreciate the beauty and craftsmanship of Chester’s chair.
Thank you for that update on exhibitions of Mr. Cornett’s extraordinary work.
this was a wonderful little article. thank you!
You’re welcome! Thanks for stopping by.
I would like to respond to the statement “There’s not a wealth of info out there outside of a film …” There actually is a LOT of documentation about Mr. Cornett. Michael Owen Jones completed a dissertation, a book and many academic articles. My Master’s Thesis at Western Kentucky University documented Chester during his time in Cincinnati. I visited Chester in Cincinnati many times, I took many photos and notes. Some of my photos were used on covers of folklore journals. One time I went with a videographer from Kentucky. I still have my field notes with details. Jim and Pam Benedict were key supporters of Chester during this time. I own a solid cherry Cornett rocker. I know other people that own Cornett rockers. I recall that Chester kept a log book of his customers that included the type of chair, the type of wood and the price. I do remember the Snake chair and the chair he presented to President Nixon. Chester was a unique person, a master craftsman, an innovator and a showman. He left a fascinating legacy in wood and in lore. I am willing to share the information I have. I have two of Chester’s hand mauls that I have been interested in donating to a university in Kentucky.
What I meant with “Not a wealth of info” is that while I am sure there is a lot of documentation in academic and folk journals, it still hasn’t filtered out to the wider public. Folks like you who have a passion for and a knowledge of Mr. Cornett’s wonderful work and those like myself who have stumbled upon it and find it remarkable will hopefully change that. The more folks talk about it, the more its impact will grow. Thanks for the comment!
thank you roger—I worked briefly with Chester in 1975, and still make furniture influenced by that time. My website is; michaelhoustoncustomfurniture.com
i would love to talk on the phone sometime. thanks again, Michael
Where Chester lived in Camp Washington, is it still there? Jones book, I think, mentions Sidney Ave, which is in Camp Washington.
I am sorry but I don’t know. Maybe some of the others who have spoken up will know.
I think Chester is a cousin to me. My Mother was Ruth Ann Cornett from Pine Mountain . I wish I knew. Watching the film about him makes me think he was a very kind and gentile man.
Chester cornett is my great great uncle