Antique Stag Horn Handle American Walking Stick Circa 1900

Details

Description

Highly figured stag horn handle, turn of the 19th century walking stick with a round walnut shaft in original finish … Read more Highly figured stag horn handle, turn of the 19th century walking stick with a round walnut shaft in original finish and wide 1 3/16" silver banded collar wrapped around the upper shaft. The handle is hand carved, nicely contoured and well suited for a comfortable grip to still use as a cane today. It has naturally aged to a lovely subdued bone color patina with lovely recessed brown highlights in the horizontal groves of the male deer horn. Just below that is a silver band (unmarked) which has been wrapped and hammered in place---beautiful and bright surface. The walnut shaft is vertically grained and all original with no repairs. It is difficult to see whether the original ferrel band is intact at the base since a tip (either bakelite or hard rubber) was added on at a later date, most likely Art Deco era, say 1930, and it is on there pretty good so I am reluctant to take it off and do any damage to the base of the cane. Besides, It looks pretty good and very natural and has been on there almost 100 years.

Every collector of walking sticks should have an elk or deer horn themed example as they were all the rage at the turn of the century, because of East Coast fascination with the American West. Also, it is a nice item of antique American folk art.

It should be noted that most 19th century walking sticks were used as fashion statements just as often as for orthopaedic utility; selecting them with the same emphasis as if they were choosing a hat to wear. There was even an individual style and gait that users employed in carrying and walking with their canes.

Dimensions: 34 1/2" x 4 3/4" wide x 1" deep

Provenance: Recently acquired from a high end West Coast estate sale.

Note: I am a second generation antiques dealer and have been in business for 50 years; I am also a member of several prestigious antique associations. Thus, I am well qualified to inspect and evaluate the products I offer for sale and I guarantee this to be authentic and as I have described. See less