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A vintage tramp art box with a white lacquered body and an unpainted lid that appears to have had its finish removed at some point, giving the piece a clear contrast between original surface and later alteration.8.5 x 7.5 x 5 inches
The interior of the lid is stamped “Preferred 5 cent Smokers. Guaranteed to Please All.” confirming its origin as a repurposed cigar box, a common starting point for tramp art makers. The interior is lined in green felt, consistent with mid-century relining practices. The box sits on four small pyramid feet that give it a slightly elevated profile and a clean, sturdy stance.
Solid condition with expected wear to the paint and light marks from use.
Tramp art was popular from roughly the 1870s through the 1940s. No one knows for sure how the practice got started, but the materials used to make it, especially wooden cigar boxes, had become standard around the 1850s. Cigar smoking was very popular at the time, and by law, the boxes couldn't be reused by cigar manufacturers, so there were plenty of them around. The people who made tramp art weren't trained artists. They taught themselves how to chip the wood and assemble objects. Some sources suggest that tramp art was made by itinerant workers and tradesmen, which means they traveled from place to place selling goods and services. But not all tramp art was made by wanderers or people without permanent homes. It took time and patience to assemble tramp art objects.
Very good, vintage condition with wear consistent with age / use.