Tramp Art is a form of folk art that was prevalent from the 1870s to the 1930s made mainly from used cigar boxes.  Since the US government would not allow reuse of cigar boxes, they found a second life in tramp art in which the artisans carved notches and then layered the pieces to create intricate designs.  The examples we find today range from funky to fine, and those incorporating hearts and stars are particularly treasured.   Tramp Art was popular in Germany and the US.

This is a wonderful example of tramp art as a spice chest with porcelain labels in old German script,  brass knobs and dated 1886 with the initials HH.  Inside you can see the labels from the old cigar boxes used to make this wonderful spice chest.

 

 

The carving on this tramp art frame is so intricate and fine, it doesn't need a picture.  It stands alone as a fine piece of folk art!

Friend Donna displays this tramp art grouping as a frame within a frame within a frame.  Lovely!

Project in progress.  My tramp art frame is waiting for a mirror.  It combines stars (top right and left) and a heart (bottom center) to give it all the elements of a wonderful piece of tramp art!