Antique Canes
The passion of collecting items such as antique canes is based on the desire of knowing and discovering the meaning of all sorts of objects, together with a natural curiosity for the functionality of these objects. Collecting antiques implies an increased interest in history and art and discovering the atmosphere of older times and spaces.
Antiques represent the artistic meticulousness of older crafts and specific techniques. The expressivity of all antique items is even more increased by the symbolization of durability and time investment.
Collecting Antique Canes
Collecting antique canes, walking sticks and antiques, in general, implies a lot of value and admiration for high art and a lot of intimacy. Because these items used to belong to somebody from a historical time, antique canes offer a perspective upon the past that involves emotion and mystery.
With a wide range of choosing possibilities and variations of these antique canes and sticks, the collecting options are unlimited, by providing the cane enthusiast with a genuine “time travel” experience, full with emotional charges and mystical content. The collector’s journey of discovering new valuable pieces brings many new interests and questions, regarding the origin, background and usage of the canes and walking sticks.
Finding each item’s unique story is another fulfilling task and journey. Collecting walking sticks is a hobby born out of passion and increased interest in beauty and history, but it also represents a valuable investment and financial possession for the future.
Walking Sticks
Antique canes and sticks can be characterized by a certain pattern of colors and a specific typology of delicate lines and care for detailing. The canes and walking sticks are found in a wide spectrum of colors, shapes and textures, ranging from plain wood to delicate amber and expensive engraved silver.
Be it expressions of folk art or high-class items that the aristocracy was proud to wear at social gatherings, the antique canes and sticks all carry a historical fingerprint, with a valuable meaning and captivating story. Since the oldest times, the walking stick has had various purposes and functional uses.
These functions range from pragmatic ones, like helping the owner walk or serving as a defense weapon, to the sophisticated ones, such as a power status or an elegant accessory, with encrusted jewels.
The simple lines and the decorative items, with various patterns that range from floral elements to geometrical shapes, are artistically used for detailing the canes. Antique walking sticks and canes have the advantage of warming the atmosphere of a setting, by adding a decorative appeal and originality to any space.
Antique Cane Expert
Trying to be an expert in antique canes and walking sticks is a long journey that requires high interest, knowledge and passion. As a collector, your experience evolves while reading about these historic items, attending actions and scanning for information from various sources.
Still, sharing the knowledge and experience with other antique cane and walking stick collectors is priceless. Exchanging stories, information, believes, impressions and, why not, exchanging canes and walking sticks is very important and transforms this occupation from a simple hobby to a professional activity.
Bakelite Tortoiseshell Cane
The tortoiseshell cane handle is a very unique material that was used in the past in making the cane handle. Due to the fact that tortoiseshell is very rare and fragile and this kind of handle requires several pieces belonging to only one animal, new innovative replacements were found, such as the bakelite.
The craft of tortoiseshell cane handles is no longer available, so all the surviving pieces are authentic antiques. Opposite to this fact, the bakelite began to be used recently, in the 20th century and this plastic is considered to be the most authentic replacement for the tortoiseshell.
Bakelite Cane Handle
Bakelite is a durable plastic with nonconductive and heat-resistant properties and it is used in various industries. In cane making, the bakelite is the base for mass-production of lower quality canes. These canes serve as great replacements for the tortoiseshells canes and, at the same time, they are economical and durable.
The apparent resemblance between the two materials is deceiving and in order to avoid confounding them, a punctilious observation is required. First of all, the most relevant test is observing the joint line that the plastic object has, as all bakelite items consist of 2 parts, molded together.
Even more, if observing all the details of the cane, there can be found some cavities or marks that represent the extraction of the piece from the die. Secondly, besides the optical characteristics, the bakelite also presents a specific plastic smell, if it is burned or intensely rubbed.
Tortoiseshell Cane Test
A simple test is very relevant in this case: a hot needle should be applied on a hidden surface of the handle. While the tortoiseshell smells like burned hair, the bakelite handle smells like burned plastic or kerosene. Even if just rubbing the fingers on the plastic surface, an acid odor is emitted, which makes the identification quite obvious.
Although these antique cane tests will help you determine the authenticity of a tortoiseshell handle, it is not intended to be the final test. Always consult an expert cane collector!
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.
Antique Cane Auctions
An antique cane auction is a highly organized and planned event, which takes place following specific rules, in an ambient full of historic patterns. The first step of the auction is represented by the preview of the selected objects, such as sword canes. These antique canes can be found in wide ranges and they are set organized on tables, inviting the participants to observe their qualities. If complete information about the antique canes is desired, the bidders and potential buyers can address to the cane experts. These experts are usually responsible for the summarized descriptions and photographs in the auction’s catalog.
The participants are both new and old collectors, some experienced, some beginners, but all interested in purchasing the perfect items for their collections. With a wide variety of prices, styles and types of antique canes, these auctions are adaptable to all budgets, interests and artistic tastes. Ranging from plain wood and engraved ivory or bamboo to expensive carved silver with jeweled handles, the spectrum of antique canes gives the collectors numerous purchasing possibilities. When examining the details, design and carving of these objects, the canes become authentic and palpable historic elements of art, which impress the buyers much more than the pictures in the catalog.
The Cane Auction
Attending a cane auction can be very exciting and you’ll feel the room buzzing with energy and excitement. Each person attending the auction is there for a reason, be it to find a missing part or perhaps to add a missing cane to their collection.
Although you can examine the cane before, you need to understand where the person selling the cane obtain it from. The last thing you want is to end up buying a fake cane made from antique parts and by understand who owned the cane before hand help authenticate the item.
Once the bidding starts, it can become very heated, not only from the bidders sitting next to you, but those bidding by phone as well. The key is to keep a cool head, understand what you’re willing to pay and not to exceed that amount.
Should an item not be sold, then a second round of bidding will occur and you’ll have another chance at picking up the antique canes or walking sticks you missed during the first round.
Prices of antique canes can range from under $100 to more than $10,000! When a cane has gadgets built into it or ornate designs made from precious metals, such as gold, the values can climb fast!
The antique cane auction is a professional way of experiencing the world of these valuable artistic items. By exchanging ideas, impressions and information about this hobby and purchasing the right pieces, the collectors develop their expertise and knowledge regarding their passion and valuable investment.
Gun Canes
Gun canes are one of the most popular gadgets an antique collector can have in his or her cane collection.
Not only is the gun cane popular, but at a recent cane auction, a Remington gun cane firm 1875 sold for more than $10,000! The dog head of this gun cane was in an L share and classic gutta-percha design known of Remington.
Gun Cane
Gun canes are designed to look like a cane or walking stick and were extremely popular in the 1850’s. These types of gun canes served only as a way to scare away a predator and buy time to escape. Although some gun canes were designed with a pop-up scope, their accuracy was never very dependable.
John F Thomas is said to have designed the first gun cane (a percussion cane gun) and split his invention with Remington who is believed to have started mass production in 1960.
Cane Gun
Later, as other can guns were made, handles were designed in a variety of shapes, including ball and claw, variations of the dog head, full curve, curve with flat gripping area, bulbous-shape, and of course the L-shape.
Not many gun canes were made [Remington's percussion and the Thomas Patent Rim fire], in fact, less then 2,000 were produced over a twenty seven year period. It’s no wonder why these gun canes are so highly sought after by antique cane collectors around the world!