Folk Art Boxes

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Tramp art box
Tramp art box with elaborate decoration
Tramp art box
Tramp art pedestal box
Tramp art bank
Tramp art bank, Lewiston, ME 1926
Octagonal tramp art box
Octagonal tramp art box with leaves
Carved dresser box
Elegant carved dresser box with
Bible, mirrors, dated 1913
Tramp art wall pocket with lovebirds
Tramp art wall box
with lovebirds, butterfly
Tramp art box
Tramp art box "A. O.", seven drawers
Tramp art box
Octagonal tramp art box
"From John to Mary 1921"
Tramp art box
Tramp art box with mirrors, 4 lids
Wooden carrier
Wooden tote with
tree branch handle
Art Deco dresser box
Layered Art Deco dresser box
Painted tramp art box
Painted tramp art box
made from wood and cardboard
Miniature tramp art dresser
Miniature tramp art dresser
Miniature dresser
Miniature dresser with heart, diamonds
Tramp art wall box
Tramp art wall box

Tramp art boxThis is a fairly large tramp art box with elaborate decoration. It is made from cigar box wood over a crate wood base, partly lined with red fabric. The dark finish is finely alligatored. The lid is hinged. Inside, part of a crate stencil reads "Mansfield". It measures 14" wide by 8 3/4" high by 7" deep. The age is from the late 1800's or early 1900's. It is in very good condition with some slight surface wear. The price is $1250.00. Inventory Code: COWW.   Tramp art box ... Another angle ... From above ... Back view ... Side view ... The other side ... Lid open ... Another view open ... From below ... With a soda can for scale.

Octagonal tramp art boxThis is an unusual very nicely detailed octagonal tramp art box from about 1900. It is built with up to 11 layers of cigar box wood in several styles of chip carving. It also features carved leaves applied in the center of each side. The surface is a dark lacquer that shows some fine crazing in areas. The lid lifts off, and there are some pencil sketches of a heart, cross, and leaf on the underside of the lid. It measures 12 1/2" by 11", and stands 7" high. The box is in good condition. It has had some restoration. Most of it was very well done and hard to pick out. There is one pyramid on the lower edge that is an old replacement that does not match the rest of the work. The price is $1500.00. Inventory Code: CWAH.   Octagonal tramp art box with leaves ... Another angle ... Third view ... One end ... The other end ... From above ... Another view from above ... Lid open ... Inside of the lid ... From below ... With a soda can for scale.
Some much larger photos:   Octagonal tramp art box with leaves ... Another angle ... Third view ... One end ... The other end ... From above ... Another view from above ... Lid open ... Inside of the lid ... From below ... With a soda can for scale.

Tramp art wall pocket with lovebirdsThis is a polychrome tramp art wall box with kissing lovebirds at the top. There is also a butterfly decoration on the open pocket above the drawer. It is built from crate wood with a hand carved drawer handle. It is painted dark pumpkin, red and black and accented with dark metal tacks. Probably from the 1920's or 30's, it is in excellent, near mint condition. The size is 17 3/4" high by 13 1/2" side by 4 1/2" deep. The price is $725.00. Inventory Code: CHCK.   Tramp art wall pocket with lovebirds ... Two more angles ... With drawer open ... Side views ... From above and below ... Back ... With a soda can for scale.
Some much larger photos:   Tramp art wall pocket with lovebirds ... Two more angles ... With drawer open ... Side views ... From above and below ... Back ... With a soda can for scale.

Tramp art boxThis is a small octagonal tramp art box. It is built up from alternating shades of cigar box wood, with an intricate finial and three feet. An inscription on the bottom reads "From John to Mary 1921 120 Different Peices". The box stands 6 1/4" high by 5 1/2" by 5 1/2". It is in generally excellent condition. A crack in the finial has been reglued and there was a fabric hinge inside the lid which has been lost. The lid does not fit perfectly, this is how it was made. The price is $450.00. Inventory Code: CNCK.   Tramp art box ... The other side ... Third view ... Fourth view ... Fifth view ... Sixth view ... From above ... Lid open ... Closeup of lid ... From below, inscription ... With a soda can for scale.
Some much larger photos:   Tramp art box ... The other side ... Third view ... Fourth view ... Fifth view ... Sixth view ... From above ... Lid open ... Closeup of lid ... From below, inscription ... With a soda can for scale.

Tramp art boxThis is an unusual tramp art box with four triangular hinged lids and eight small mirrors set into the sides and lids. From the early 1900's, it is built from alternating lighter and darker layers. The surface is very dry and oxidized. It is 9" high by 11 1/2" by 11 1/2". The condition is fairly good with some small areas of loss and surface wear. The price is $1250.00. Inventory Code: CWHK.   Tramp art box ... Another view ... From above ... One side ... Second side ... Third side ... Fourth side, with a soda can for scale ... Another view from above ... Two of the lids open ... Third lid open ... Fourth lid open ... From below.
Some much larger photos:   Tramp art box ... Another view ... From above ... One side ... Second side ... Third side ... Fourth side, with a soda can for scale ... Another view from above ... Two of the lids open ... Third lid open ... Fourth lid open ... From below.

Tramp art boxThis is a tramp art pedestal box in dark lacquer finish. It has a small brass clasp, and a round hole in the lid, presumably for lifting. The chip carving is fine and even. The inside of the lid has a metallic foil border, apparently remaining from the cigar box. It stands 7 1/2" high by 11" wide by 7 1/4" deep. Both hinges were repaired with small nails in the back. From the late 1800's or early 1900's, it is in very good condition with very slight surface wear. The price is $425.00. Inventory Code: CRRR.   Tramp art box ... Another angle ... Back view ... From above ... Another view from above ... Side view ... The other side ... Another back view ... Closeup of clasp ... Closeup of hinges ... Closeup of the base ... Another overall view ... Lid open ... Closeup of inner lid ... From below ... With a soda can for scale.

Tramp art bankThis is a tramp art bank with a beautiful alligatored surface. It is dated 1926 on the top, with the words "Lewiston" and "Maine" painted on the long sides, and the initials "E" and "A" on the short ends. There is a slot in the top to put money in. A secret "puzzle" mechanism allows the bottom to be removed to empty. It measures 7 1/4" wide by 3 3/4" deep by 4" high. The box is in excellent condition with the exception that there may have been feet on the bottom originally. The price is $395.00. Inventory Code: COHS.   Tramp art bank ... One side ... The other side ... From above ... One end ... The other end ... Another view ... From below ... Another view from below ... Bottom removed ... Another view open ... With a soda can for scale.

Wooden carrierThis is an interesting old wood "tote". It was primarily made out of crate wood, with a round handle fashioned from a tree branch. The carrier is divided into four sections, each about 4 1/2" square. The entire piece is about 11 1/2" wide by 10 1/2" deep by 20" tall. It was painted an old silver radiator paint, which has weathered over the years. This piece is probably made around the 1930's or 40's, and is in excellent sturdy condition with one long sliver missing from the lower edge. The price is $175.00. Inventory Code: CPTO.   Wooden carrier tote ... One side ... Two more sides ... The fourth side ... From above ... Closeup of one side ... Closeup, opposite side ... Closeup from above ... Closeup of the handle ... Another closeup of the handle and construction ... Top view ... From below ... With a soda can for scale.
Some much larger photos:   Wooden carrier tote ... One side ... Two more sides ... From above ... Closeup of one side ... Closeup from above.

Carved dresser boxThis is an exceptionally nice and unusual handmade, one-of-a-kind dresser piece, with two sections that open for storage. While it has a fraternal look, it may very well have been made for personal use. This piece is made from various woods, two old mirrors, came from Pennsylvania and is dated 1913. The base is plywood while the rest seems to be two or more softwoods. Overall, this construction is about 10 1/4" high. The base is about 5 1/2" by 8" and the legs extend out to 9 1/2" wide by 7" deep. One of the legs has a barely visible crack underneath that was reglued years ago. The very top of the box is decorated with a carved and open book. This has the words Holy Bible spelled with individually carved and applied letters, 3 of which are long gone. The lid opens to reveal a storage area lined with black velvet and a mirror, which has lost much of the silvering. The front of this section has a mirror inserted in a framed portion, the corners of which are carved like supports similar to those which are below. The bottom box also has a hinged top, which opens to reveal a second and smaller storage area. The very top of this box is also relief carved into a decorative form and has the letters "E" and "H" applied - although the "H" is also long gone. The wood seems to have been finished with some stain and a very light varnish or lacquer, and the surface has taken on a very nice and rich patina with fine crazing. While there is a little wear from use and some surface cracks in the plywood this is in overall very good condition and has a wonderful look. The price is $575.00. Inventory Code: CSPO.   Carved dresser box ... Another angle ... A third view ... Side views ... Back view ... Another back view ... Closeup of the top ... Closeup of the lower compartment ... A third closeup ... With lids open ... The mirror inside the lid ... The lower compartment, open ... Inside the upper compartment ... Closeup from back ... Another closeup, back ... From above ... From below ... With a soda can for scale.
Some much larger photos:   Carved dresser box ... A different view ... Side views ... Back view ... Closeup of the top ... Closeup of the lower compartment ... Closeup from back ... From above ... With a soda can for scale.

Tramp art boxThis is a striking tramp art box with seven drawers, decorative handles, built up feet, and the initials "A O". It is a medium brown, with the chip carved initials slightly lighter, finished in a somewhat glossy clear lacquer or varnish. The drawers are lined with purplish-red velvet. It is signed and dated on the bottom "Arthur Gruber 1931 Jan." There is a cigar box label visible inside that is from New Jersey. The size is 15 3/4" wide by 7 1/4" deep by 9 1/4" high. There is some minor loss on the back right corner and on two of the feet. Otherwise the condition is excellent. The price is $1250.00. Inventory Code: COWO.   Tramp art box ... Another angle ... From above ... Side view ... The other side ... Back view ... Closeup of the initials ... Closeup of loss ... Closeup of one foot ... Closeup of second foot ... From below ... Closeup of signature ... Drawers removed ... Closeup inside ... Front view in different light ... With a soda can for scale.

Art Deco dresser boxThis is a three drawer Art Deco style dresser box with unusual construction. The front, sides, back, and top are built up from strips of plywood. The strips were turned so that the edges of the layers show, giving an effect similar to inlay or matchstick work. It is also related to the "flat work" style of tramp art, except that the layers are not carved. The initials "M.E.C." are incised and then painted on the top. The back crest is cut out in steps, with incised lines. A mirror is set into the upper back. The box is finished in a light varnish, darkened slightly with age. It was made in the first half of the 20th century, and measures 10 3/4" high by 12" wide by 7 1/2" deep. The condition is excellent with the exception of a sliver missing from the top of the mirror and a little bit of the silvering, as seen in the closeup. The price is $325.00. Inventory Code: CATP.   Layered Art Deco dresser box ... Front view ... From above ... Another angle ... One side ... The other side ... Back view ... Another view from above ... Drawers open ... Closeup of the mirror ... From below ... With a soda can for scale.
Some much larger photos:   Layered Art Deco dresser box ... Front view ... From above ... Another angle ... One side ... The other side ... Back view ... Another view from above.

Painted tramp art boxThis is a colorfully painted tramp art box with a drawer and hinged lid. The construction is unusual. The upper, hinged portion is built around a cardboard cigar box. This was surrounded with 1/2" thick boards at the sides and back to make it taller, a drawer added underneath, then the whole box was decorated with chip-carved wood layers, some in free-form shapes. It was painted in two shades of rose, blue, black, and brown, with each notch highlighted in dull gold. Metal tacks and handles complete the decoration. There is a label inside from a Pennsylvania cigar factory.

The box stands 8 3/4" tall by 11" wide by 6" deep. The condition is fairly good. There is some wear to the edges of the cardboard part, mainly visible in the top corners and the edge just above the drawer. See the photos for details. Also, the hinges have pulled away from the cardboard, so that the lid is only held on by the metal slider inside. It is from the mid-1900's. The price is $395.00. Inventory Code: CATS.   Painted tramp art box ... Front view ... Another angle ... From above ... Side view ... The other side ... Back view ... Lid open ... Open, from above ... With drawer removed ... The label inside ... Closeup of lid ... Another closeup ... Closeup of hinges ... From below ... With a soda can for scale.
Some much larger photos:   Painted tramp art box ... Front view ... Another angle ... From above ... Side view ... The other side ... Back view ... Another closeup ... Closeup of hinges.

Miniature tramp art dresserThis is a tramp art miniature dresser. It has a drawer over two doors, decorated with flatwork, with three small mirrors set in. The surface is a dark, glossy lacquer or varnish. Inside are color labels from Red Lion Cigars, a Pennsylvania brand. It stands 10" high by 8 5/8" wide 6" deep. From the early 1900's, it is in excellent, near mint condition with some loss of silvering to the mirrors. The price is $475.00. Inventory Code: CKPS.   Miniature tramp art dresser ... Another angle ... Third view ... Side view ... The other side ... Back view ... Labels inside ... From above ... From below ... With a soda can for scale.

Miniature dresserThis is a miniature dresser made from several shades of wood, decorated with a heart and diamonds. It has a drawer with hand carved knob. The swivel frame holds a printed picture of a winter street scene. The surface is finished in a clear lacquer or varnish. It is 10" high by 9 1/2" wide by 4 1/4" deep. Age is likely from the mid-20th c. or possibly earlier. The condition is excellent, with very slight wear on the top or the crest. The price is $375.00. Inventory Code: CKSK.   Miniature dresser ... Another angle ... Closeup ... Another closeup ... Side view ... The other side ... Back view ... Drawer removed ... From above ... From below ... With a soda can for scale.

Tramp art wall boxThis is a tramp art wall box. It has very fine workmanship and free form designs. It has a dark, rich surface with slight color variation in the woods used. A folded piece of cloth was tacked to the lower back to pad where it rests against the wall when hanging. It is from the early 1900's and measures 11 3/4" high by 7 3/4" wide by 4" deep. The condition is very good, with minor loss to the left front finial and slight surface wear on the sides and bottom lip. The price is $325.00. Inventory Code: CRRA.   Tramp art wall box ... Closeup ... Side view ... The other side ... From above ... From below ... Back view ... With a soda can for scale.

 

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