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THBFigural Boxwood Cane
About Seller
125 West Market Street
Johnson City, TN 37604
United States
Family-owned and family-run Johnson City Tennessee auction business for 25 years. Selling antiques and collectables for 38 years. Kimball M. Sterling, Inc. was founded and is owned by Kimball and Victoria Sterling, time and again, they have laid solid claim to world-wide attention and renown with an...Read more
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About Auction
LiveJan 3, 2026
Masterpiece Cane auction is all from a Europeon collection. We offer items from this private collection about once a year, Kimball Sterling kimballsterling@earthlink.net
View Full Catalog (89)
- Lot Description
Ca. 1900
Substantial boxwood handle finely carved as a vertical bust of a putto, terminating in an integral pedestal adorned with exuberant foliate motifs. The modeling is of exceptional quality, distinguished by harmonious proportions and an impressive overall size. The head and facial features are rendered with remarkable sensitivity and refinement. An informed eye will discern an inspiration from the works of the Flemish master François Duquesnoy, whose characteristically rounded and graceful putti find a distinguished echo in this piece.
The bust rests upon a widening, round, turned, and tooled bone collar, set above a plain silver band struck with London hallmarks for 1902. It is mounted on a malacca shaft and finished with a long bone ferrule.
The carving, while stylized to serve the functional requirements of a cane handle, reveals close study from life and an assured understanding of anatomy. The elongated proportions and finely textured surface contribute to its tactile appeal; this is a piece that feels as good in the hand as it looks to the eye.
Although relatively uncommon in this larger size, this cane is a top-quality work of art, blending sculptural skill with fine craftsmanship. It survived in good condition and features an age-grown patina that adds to its character.
H. 5 ¼” x 1 ½”, O.L. 36”
$700-$900
Before plastics became common, boxwood was essential in many fields, from fine arts to engineering, construction, and mapmaking. Its high density, fine grain, and resistance to warping made it ideal for precision work.
These qualities also made it the top choice for sculptors and carvers doing small, highly detailed pieces. The wood’s smooth, tight texture allows for sharp modeling and subtle surface changes, creating effects of softness and life that are hard to achieve with other woods.
Because of this, boxwood was traditionally used for miniature sculptures, portrait medallions, devotional carvings, and sometimes cane handles, where durability and artistic detail mattered most. Its golden color, which softens with age and handling, adds to its allure as a medium for fine decorative art.
The carving, while stylized to serve the functional requirements of a cane handle, reveals close study from life and an assured understanding of anatomy. The elongated proportions and finely textured surface contribute to its tactile appeal; this is a piece that feels as good in the hand as it looks to the eye.
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