Tramp Art: A Folk Art Phenomenon
Tramp art, a style of wood carving that was especially popular during the early part of this century, is misleadingly named. Although some itinerant people practiced this decorative skill, it is more a sedentary folk tradition handed down from father to son. In tramp art, the artist uses a penknife to cut simple V-shaped notches into the edges of scrap wood, generally cigar boxes. The wood is then glued, layered, and assembled into utilitarian objects for the home, e.g., picture frames, jewelry boxes, and furniture trim. Until recently, tramp art was overlooked by all but a few experts such as Fendelman, a contributor to Country Living magazine and cohost of the National television program Treasures in Your Attic, and Taylor, a collector and professional photographer long fascinated with tramp art. The book is filled with high-quality color illustrations and contains everything known about the subject. Recommended for antiques collections in public libraries.ASusan M. Olcott, Columbus Coll. of Art & Design, OHCopyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.