- Accepts Etsy gift cards
Early 20th-century tramp art box featuring a cube-shaped body raised on a distinctive pyramidal pedestal base. Measuring 9 inches high by 8 inches wide and 8 inches deep, the box displays the layered construction and hand-notched carving associated with traditional cigar-box tramp art.
The hinged lid opens to reveal a removable, three-section interior tray. Lifting the tray exposes a concealed storage compartment beneath, adding an unusual and functional element to the design. The underside of the lid retains part of the original cigar-box branding, burned into the wood with the word “Nation” and a small logo resembling a hummingbird. A partial interior label reads “…Londres, Gran…,” likely referencing the original cigar variety or manufacturer.
Tramp art flourished from approximately the 1870s through the 1940s. Makers transformed readily available materials—particularly discarded wooden cigar boxes—into intricately layered household and decorative objects. Although the tradition was once closely associated with itinerant workers, tramp art was produced by people from a wide range of backgrounds. Most were self-taught craftspeople who developed the precise chip-carving and assembly techniques through patience, repetition, and ingenuity.
Good antique condition with wear consistent with age and use. Some carved elements are missing. Please review images closely for condition details.