Pyramid Footed Tramp Art Jewelry Box, United States, 19th Century

A substantial and finely worked tramp art box of impressive scale, its pyramid-shaped lidded form entirely surfaced in the characteristic chip-carved layered wood construction of the tradition. The lid rises to a bold central knob finial, and the warm amber and deep brown tones of the wood create a rich visual rhythm across the piece. The box sits on four small feet and opens to a plain interior. A striking and highly collectible example of American folk art at its most architecturally ambitious.