Antique Canes

The Antique Canes auction, presented by Kimball Sterling, offers a collection of folk, Art Nouveau, dress, and porcelain canes from the 17th century to the present. Introduced in the 16th and 17th centuries by English and French aristocrats, walking canes often served as symbols of power, wealth, and social stature among the nobility. Highlighted in the auction’s lots is a gold quartz presentation cane. This piece has an octagonal handle and gold quartz on top.

Also featured in this timed auction is a late 20th-century memento mori dress cane. The philosophy of memento mori, Latin for ‘remember that you must die,’ reminds the viewer of their mortality using symbols and art. Topping the available piece is a carved ebony female head, one half of which exposes the skull. Also offered is a late 19th-century folk art cane. Made by untrained artisans, folk art canes cast attention on the artist’s individual skill and personality. The available piece shows a carved monkey eating a coconut. Explore the full listings and register to bid online on Bidsquare.