Collectable silver mounted walking sticks and canes
A walking stick was an integral part of every well dressed man's wardrobe in the nineteenth century, and his collection of walking-sticks were probably kept just inside the hall in a stand, sharing space with umbrellas.
Walking-sticks and canes derive from the cudgels and staves carried for defence, evolving into dress accessories topped with silver or ivory, with a ferrule at the point to cut down wear. Many had elaborately carved heads. Sometimes these unscrewed to reveal space for a snuff box or other article. About 200 ancillary accessories are known to have been incorporated into walking
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sticks, the best known being the sword. Sword sticks date back to the sixteenth century, and often the sword just slides out with the stick acting as a sheath. Other sword and knife designs had a spring mechanism and would release on the press of a button or lever.
Other sticks pull apart, revealing a dagger with a handle for the left hand, and a stick with a blade for the right hand. Two steel blades sliding into the shaft from each end probably represent duelling weapons. The poacher's gun was a simple weapon in the shape of a walking stick; more sophisticated was a six-barrelled revolver, exposed by pressure on a trigger-spring that expelled part of the cane, and which had a dagger in the centre of the barrels.
Most extravagant was the machine-gun in a rectangular cane. "The kit", as it was 'known, was a pocket violin; this was developed into a violin fitted into a cane with a two-inch (5cm) diameter. Other canes contained music-boxes, harmonicas, flutes, piccolos, pipes (including opium pipes), vesta boxes, cigarette holders, candles, battery torches (dating from as early as 1882), contraceptives, poison, and a whole tribe of canes known as working companions (scalpels for doctors, small spades for botanists, safety lamps for miners). Among the most curious is the voyeur's cane with a mirror above the ferrule enabling the user to look up women's skirts.
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Canes
From around 1550 to 1930, canes were a dressing accessory without which a lady or gentleman, properly dressed, would never leave the house. However their use went out of fashion after this, leaving the market to collectors.
For a collector, the main interest lies in the handle, which could be made of wood, bamboo, ebony, ivory, tusk, animal horn, or bone. Sometimes they were made out of porcelain, Bakelite, gold, silver, or glass; enameled or cloisonnéd; or sprinkled with precious gemstones. The height of good taste was a gold handle with minmal decoration, as silver handles were despised by
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the wealthier classes. However silver handled canes have survived in large numbers, and exhibit a wide variety of decorative treatment, from the comparatively plain, armorial or regimental style to the more flamboyant excesses of Art Nouveau.
Carved handles can be found depicting grotesque animal or human forms, and are highly prized nowadays. Also keenly sought are multi-purpose canes, with a concealed spirit flask, tobacco pipe or even a tiny fire-arm for personal safety.
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Sterling silver mounted walking stick with a horn handle, engraved 'Presented to Mr H Harris by the Cardonnel tin plate workmen on leaving for Australia 18th Sep 1897' Birmingham, 1896, maker Jh length - 87 cm
Antique walking sticks. Carved blackwood & a metamorphic stick with silver plaque 'Presented To W.Pinnington Esq. By The Members, Portwood Working Men's Club On His Resigning Office As Hon. Treasurer Feb. 17th (18)96'. (2 items)
An English walking cane, by Jonathan Howell of Henry Howell & Co, circa 1921, the burrwood shaft terminating in silver collar and carved parrot form handle, retailed by J.L.Caldwell Philadelphia
Three walking canes, one with Indian silver mounts. One with engraved silver mounts, maker 'Kingston & Co', engraved 'Hal From Fred, Xmas '98'. One with engraved handle, hallmarked Birmingham 1885. Approx 84 cm, 97 cm & 102 cm long (3)
Three walking canes. One with gilt metal mount, one with silver top with engraved decoration, one with engraved silver top hallmarked Birmingham 1888. Approx 95 cm, 95 cm & 114 cm (3)
Three sterling silver topped walking canes, all with engraved decoration, hallmarked London 1901 maker WHR, Birmingham 1876 maker Sydney & Company, one unmarked, approx 80 cm to 90 cm long (3)
A Victorian horn and silver walking cane, 1888 Birmingham, with maker's mark WM, the tapering malacca cane shaft with a scrolled silver ferrule surmounted by a cream brown mottled bone handle well carved with a pair of mice; hallmarked. Length 85 cm
Alfred Felton: Walking stick with silver mount inscribed 'Alfred Felton Esplanade St Kilda. 1903'. Famously known for establishing the Felton Bequest one of Australia's most prestigious & enduring philanthropic bequests. 85 cm
A silver mounted walking stick, previously belonging to Alfred Felton, dated 1903 the silver cap inscribed 'Alfred Felton, Esplanade, St Kilda, 1903', 86 cm length
Scottish timber walking stick with Australian silver collar, engraved 'Colonial Bank, Warnambool'. Monogrammed THW. Former property of the bank manager