Tramp Art: What is that?!

 
Tramp art is a distinctive style of folk art that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, primarily in the United States and Europe.

It's best known for its layered, chip-carved woodwork, often made from recycled materials like cigar boxes, shipping crates, and discarded wood.

Key Characteristics:

Notched or carved layers: artists used a pocketknife to whittle geometric patterns into small wooden pieces, which were then stacked to create a raised, 3D effect.

Recycled materials: It was resourceful and accessible cigar boxes, crates, and other scrap wood were commonly used.

Items were handmade by amateurs or hobbyists often traveling laborers or “tamps”, hence the name though many makers were simply rural folks or immigrants with time and tools.

Common objects:

Picture frames, boxes, mirrors, furniture, and religious shrines were common tramp art creations.

Tramp art is a beautiful example of making something out of almost nothing. It's a symbol of creativity during hard times, and today it's highly collectible, valued for its craftsmanship, history, and outsider art aesthetic.