Antique Walking Sticks – A Beautiful Collectors Items
Walking sticks were an integral part of the lives of people from virtually every occupation from about 1550 to 1930. They reflected a sense of style and culture and were a basic component of an individual’s formal attire. People did not use them solely for support, they essentially “wore” their cane or walking stick. Today, there is an enormous market for antique walking sticks and they have become a treasured collector’s item as a piece of fashion history.
Of course, walking sticks have existed since the first humans used branches for balance on rough terrain. They later evolved to include herding rods and large staffs, which could be used to herd animals or even as weapons. Roman and Greek history portray many uses for canes and walking sticks. In fact, the word “cane” may come from the Latin “canis” for dog, since packs of dogs roamed Roman and Italian cities and pedestrians needed to carry something with which to defend themselves. Throughout history, canes have also been used to hide things, such as a sword or knife. Canes and walking sticks developed into a symbol of authority, from the Greeks to King Tutankhamen in Egypt. In addition, there are many biblical references to canes. King Louis XIV of France used elaborate walking sticks with jewels embedded, and limited their use to only the aristocracy, although they were not permitted in the presence of the king himself. By the 19th century, canes were mass-produced and the style of cane or walking stick reflected a person’s occupation or membership in a fraternal organization. Specialty canes manufactured by leading silversmiths became a status symbol. Today, the antique walking stick market is comprised of folk art, city sticks, and gadget canes. Folk art canes were carved individually, often in great detail with complex adornments. City sticks were carried as a fashion accessory, and were used to hide all manner of contraband. Snuff, tobacco, and other drugs were carried in a person’s cane. The term “gadget canes” refers to canes that were also used to hide something or to represent the owner’s function, rank, or occupation. Canes used as weapons fall into this category. Collectors look for canes made from a wide variety of materials. One can find antique walking sticks made from gold, silver, ivory, enamel, porcelain, hand carved wood, snake wood, ebony, rhino horn, whale bone, narwhal tusk, glass, bakelite, and more. The handles of antique walking sticks also come in an incredibly wide variety of materials. In their heyday, each profession even had their own style of walking stick. There were also sword canes, musical canes, doctor canes, picnic canes, fishing pole canes, political canes, and horse measure canes, just to name a few. With this astonishing variety, combined with the fact that canes and walking sticks have been used for centuries, it is not surprising that such a large market has developed for antique walking sticks. It is now possible to become an avid collector and even an expert on antique walking sticks from the comfort of one’s own computer.
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