Early Tramp Art Frame

Small but richly detailed, this original American tramp art frame dates from the early to mid-20th century and features two openings within a hand-crafted wood surround. The surface is decorated with classic layered tramp art carving, accented by heart and leaf motifs that give the piece a warm, folk-driven character. Both sculptural and functional, it makes a striking display object whether used for photographs, keepsakes, or simply appreciated as a standalone example of American vernacular design. 10 1/4 x 7 inches

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. 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. Some of tramp art's defining characteristics include chip or notch carving, the reclamation of cheap or available wood such as that from cigar boxes and shipping crates, the use of simple tools such as penknives, and the layering of materials into geometric shapes through glue or nails.