What is Tramp Art?

During the Great Depression (1930s) many men were out of work. They road the rails around the country trying to find employment. In their spare time while sitting around campfires the more capable would use pen knives to whittle discarded wooden apple or orange crates into decorative utilitarian objects, like trinket boxes, and then barter them for a meal or lodging. Often these pieces were chip-carved. This style actually became popular earlier during the Victorian era in the U.S., but it has become known as “tramp art” because of what happened later. Today, tramp art is sought by collectors. The more elaborate examples can be quite valuable. Now you know.