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Tramp Art Tips

Collectible Treasures : Episode COL-1110 -- More Projects »
The heyday of tramp art was between 1870 and 1930. If you have some tramp art, and you want to know a little more specifically about when it was made, here are a few tips:

  • The date is often easily determinable because it's printed right on the lid. There are some clues in design if it isn't.
  • A heart-shaped frame with slots is a perfect shape for tintypes. Tintypes were common in the 1880s, so the piece was probably made about that time.
  • A candlestick in an art-deco design dates circa 1920 or 1930.
  • Lastly, a horseshoe-shaped mirror designed with the horseshoe facing down--a sign of good luck--means it was probably made prior to 1929. During the Depression, downward-oriented horseshoes were considered bad luck (all the luck was perceived to flow out the bottom), and ones that faced up became the norm.
Also in this Episode
Collectible Treasures : Episode COL-1110
•Bakelite Boxes and Jewelry
•Tramp Art
•Bronze Sculpture
•Tramp Art Tips
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