Black Man Canes
The black man canes (also called the Black Men Canes) are original, yet controversial pieces of antique canes, which have an increased popularity and dual meanings. Having various unique stories, cultural backgrounds, historic times and spaces as their origins, the “black man canes” are expressions of believes, prejudices and cultural conflicts of the previous historic eras.
There are two significant types of black man canes: the original appeals and the caricatured canes. Firstly, the original “black man” cane originates in the slave culture, representing a reaction against the oppressions of the society. These canes are valid collectibles and even more, the investment is safe and assured, as these race-symbol based and cultural canes will hold their value. These “black man” canes represent true descriptions of an era which was ruled by prejudices and racial injustice, when the need of feeling superior and oppression were present in all aspects of life.
The second type of the “black man” cane is represented by a caricatured face of black men or women, with exaggerated features or smiles. Because they are meant to offend the subjects and to intimidate them, these canes are considered deliberate racial prejudices.
The most frequent examples of Black Men Canes are the Sambo, the Minstrel and the Reluctant Beheaded canes, which are deliberately intended to accentuate and focus on an awareness of racial difference. Based on the unfounded myths of racial inferiority, this sort of “black man” canes are results of cultural frustrations and unjustified believes.
Black Man Cane
Besides these two main categories of “black man” canes, there is also another distinctive class of such sticks. This category is typified by the craftsmen’s renderings of the faces belonging to black men and women for their cane handles. These canes are representative for the Moorish, North African, or Caribbean cultures, as the features of the faces resemble physiognomy of these people. The value of these canes is represented by the beauty investment of the artist in the represented portrays, which is a true expression of a cultural identity.
The three types of “black man” canes are distinctive interpretations of cultural facts, racial believes or illustrations of specific physiognomies. With a thin line that separates the authentic and valuable art from the exaggerated and cartoonish handles, the “black man” canes represent a true enigma and mysteries story, with cultural and racial meanings and substrates.
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