Tramp Art Diamond Mirror with Star Medallions, American, 19th Century

This exceptional Tramp Art mirror is hung on the diagonal, its square form rotated to a diamond orientation that immediately sets it apart from any other piece on the wall. The wide surround is carved in concentric layers of zigzag and sawtooth patterns radiating inward toward four bold four-pointed star medallions in a near-black finish with warm amber undertones visible in raking light. It is a rare and graphic example of the form that bridges folk art and something closer to pure abstraction.