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| Tramp
Art, collected by many, has an interesting story as to its American
origins.. Generally speaking, Tramp Art is a layered work in which chips
are removed for a simple or an intricate design. There is disagreement
about the origins of Tramp Art. Some will say that tramps or hoboes
created these objects to barter with or in payment for room or food. Other
knowledgeable resources would argue that this was not the case as many of
the larger items may have required a lengthy stay in one place to
complete.- not the common lifestyle of the tramp or hobo. Of course,
before its American roots, this type of art form be traced back even
further. Whatever the actual origins and purposes, it is an interesting
project to consider.
It has been said that people
created Tramp Art from whatever material was available around them. Often
cigar boxes and wood from crates were “recycled” to create layered
boxes. The cigar box would serve as the base for the project and pieces of
the wooden crate were cut and placed in pyramid fashion on the top and
sides of the box. Glue was not readily used because of the nature of the
itinerant carver. It may have required a melting pot or similar process.
Typically, the pieces were attached with small tacks. The layers of wood
attached to the box were chip carved. In some cases, the notches left when
the chip was removed would be the entire thickness of the wood. In other
cases, it may have been only half the thickness of the wood. It became a
matter of the artist’s own style or creativity. The notches were
sometimes fewer with a wider space between them or at times closer
together. There were no rules to Tramp Art just like a chip carver today
is free to use his or her imagination to create a masterpiece unlike any
other. It is doubtful that the Tramp Art carver of days past carried a
toolbox full of layout tools and a large selection of carving knives. More
likely, the notches were “eyeballed” and cut accordingly. However,
carvers today have the luxury of laying out a pattern or creating a
cardboard template of the finished design.
Tramp Art was not limited to
boxes alone although boxes typically show the most common “Tramp Art”
look. A lot of carved items today (which are not easily classified as to
style) are labeled Tramp Art due to the fact that the term is sometimes
considered a synonym for a “folk art” sort of look. Other items
ranging from picture frames to furniture were created using this
technique. Boxes N Such has taken yet another turn in their
offering of unassembled wooden boxes to the carvers of today. With the
Tramp Art style in mind, Boxes N Such is offering an
unassembled, layered wooden box. It begins with a standard wooden box kit.
Everything is included in the kit to make the box, but then in addition,
there are pieces of wood that, once chip carved, can be attached to the
top and sides of the box. (Additional add-ons are also available.)
Assembly instructions and helpful hints are included in the kit, but the
pattern and style is completely up to the individual. There is no end to
the exciting and new items the carver can create…and it will not be long
before his or her creation is also a much-sought-after collectible. |
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LAYERED BOXES
Layered boxes for
tramp art contain all the elements to create a box as shown above,
including hinges. You may add all the layers or just a few to create the
look you want. All dimensions are for the foundational box to which the
layers are added. Actual size is larger and dependent on the number of
layers that you add to your box. All layers and foundational box are 3/8”
basswood.
The Foundational
Box is assembled
Mini Tramp Art Box—Foundational
Box size 4 3/4” x 2 1/2” x 2 3/8” . Layers—3 on each side, 3 on
top, standard brass hinges
Small Tramp Art Box—Foundational
Box Size 4 3/4”’ x 4 3/4” x 2 3/8” . Layers—3 on each size, 6 on
top, standard brass hinges
Large Tramp Art Box—Foundational
Box Size 4 3/4” x 7 1/2” x 2 3/8” . Layers—3 on each side, 6 on
top, standard brass hinges
New Item
Tramp Art Basswood Picture
Frame
Designed to hold a 4”x6”
print or a small mirror . 2 ½” x ¾” base frame. Base frame is
assembled. Includes everything needed for layers as well as for wall
hanging or sitting on a table.
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