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Tramp art holds a unique place in the canon of American folk art. Primitive yet astoundingly intricate in their construction, these decorative objects are made through a process of layering elaborately notched pieces of wood in order to create ornate and multi-dimensional surfaces. It is most commonly found as boxes, picture frames, and other table-top items, but encompasses full-sized furniture pieces as well.
Tramp art was most prevalent during the years of the Great Depression. All of the wood used in its construction is scrap and discard; a craft of itinerant carvers, most of it was made from the wooden cigar boxes of the era. Most fascinating is the fact that there are no written instructions for the construction or crafting of a piece of tramp art and it doesn't appear that there ever were. This is a technique apparently passed on through word of mouth, practical demonstration, and imitation.
