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
more...
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.
less...
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
more...
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.
less...
Early 20th century camera tripod walking cane, marked Ica.Akt-Ges Dresden, with crooked handle and silver collar and base, the shaft opening into a camera tripod, in an ebonised finish
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)
Art Nouveau walking cane the s/p handle formed as a sinuous female form, the tapering wooden handle in 3 screw in sections, the central section with a propelling pencil (faults)
Old Ivory cane with brass ferule and silver cap with early hand engraved initials. The cap has possibly been lacquered and there is some minor repairs to cane, approx 90 cm long
Two silver mounted walking canes, 19th century and later, one with a sterling silver top hallmarked Birmingham 1898, the other with a handle modelled as a silvered parrot, the longest cane 92 cm
A walking cane with stylised S.E. Asian dragon head finial, carved in ivory (very slight losses) fixed with a horn collar to a slender tapering ebony shaft. Length 91 cm
Rare Swaine & Adeney London walking cane with included horse measurement gauge, measured in hands on internal extendable wooden rod, with an included brass measuring balance, all included within a cane walking stick, length 94 cm.
A gentleman's walking cane with silver repousse top, engraved to the top 'D.A Rang Wala', with buckle band on shaft engraved 'ADE' in script. Silver is unmarked. Height 88 cm
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)
A 1900 New Zealand timber walking cane, the shaft with chatoyancy effect, a rose gold presentation collar from the Stewards of the Northern Steamship Co. and with rose gold shield to the top of handle. Length 95 cm.
A c.1900 ivory and silver handled malacca cane walking stick, the tapered handle with raised knobbly effect, scroll decorated silver band and cap end showing some distress. Hallmarked London 1891. Length 90 cm.
A souvenir Swiss Alpine walking cane with a Chamois horn handle, early 20th century, from 'Luzern', the cane with a horn handle and faux hoof mount, 81 cm long
A Malacca and Anglo-Indian cane, the shaft terminating in a heavily embossed Indian silver handle. Length 93 cm. Provenance: The Flower Family Collection.
An early 1900s silver topped walking cane, the silver handle in the form of an Art Nouveau maiden with a berry vine entwined in her hair, length 80 cm.
A Colonial walking cane and a cane with a Dog's head handle, early 20th century, and later, an Indian Lucknow, style cane with a silver-plated pommel handle, relief cast with scenes of village life, and a modern brass mounted wooden stick with a striking,…
A collection of walking sticks and canes, including a silver mounted 'Bohemian Club Reward' walking stick, and specimens of fiddleblack blackwood and macassar ebony, comprising fifteen pieces, the longest 93 cm
Whisky cane antique walking stick with concealed glass whisky tube and cork stopper, hidden under a silver cap, with ebonized shaft and brass ferrule, 19th century, 86 cm high
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)
Early Australian lady's silver topped walking cane silver topped cap of a woman's figure, with engraving: 'Park Street, Sydney' length 88 cm. No makers mark, inscribed T. Teleford Priora 48 & 50 Park St Sydney.
A whalebone cane, the shaft with metal ferrule the top with four marine ivory discs and five horn discs, a small silver plate cartouche with dog to the front, handle absent. Provenance: The Flower Family Collection. Length 83 cm