Polmac (UK) Ltd is always curious about art forms that include the production of wooden boxes and the construction and decorative techniques used to make them, to see what we can learn.
One of these is 'Tramp Art', an art form that evolved around the world when small fragments of wood, from discarded shipping crates and cigar boxes were carved into complex geometric shapes.
Tramp Art Carved Box
Simple tools such as pocketknives were used to carve the wood and assemble mainly utilitarian objects. Thousands of tramp art objects were produced worldwide but mostly in the USA where the art form took root.
The most common objects produced were carved wooden boxes, such as jewellery boxes and picture frames, although objects of every conceivable shape and size, including full sized furniture were made.
Tramp Art was a democratic art form made wherever suitable raw materials could be found. It is thought that in the USA 50 different ethnic groups were involved in making tramp art objects.
It appealed to anyone who was proficient at whittling wood with a penknife, because making tramp art objects was relatively quick and easy. Tramp art was mostly made in the home environment by people from all walks of life.
Tramps or 'hoboes' as they were called in America, also made tramp art but not in very great quantities. The name tramp art was conceived in modern times and was believed to have been created by skilled German or Scandinavian immigrants to America, although some people dispute this.
Tramp art is an important art form and is a testament to the ability and creativity of ordinary people, with little, or no training in the arts, to produce objects of great artistic merit and beauty.
The Tramp Art movement was among the first to use discarded materials to make objects of art, as well as every day utilitarian objects. Many of these objects are truly stunning and it is no surprise that the art form it being discovered once again.
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