Figural Hard Stone Cane

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Masterpiece Cane Auction

By Kimball Sterling

May 24, 2025

Set Reminder 2025-05-24 11:00:00 2025-05-24 11:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Masterpiece Cane Auction https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/kimball-sterling/masterpiece-cane-auction-19479
A European Masterpiece Cane Auction Kimball Sterling kimballsterling@earthlink.net

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• Lot Description
  Ca. 1900 Wheel cut of an amethyst in a basic L-shape to depict a prone pug, the rendering stresses the absurdly large, round head with an adorably squished and short-muzzled face. The wrinkly cheeks extend to the sides of a pair of widely spaced circular, three-colored enamel eyes, bulging out of their sockets and giving the characteristic, perpetually dopey expressions that can't help but make you smile. The skin on the skull and forehead falls in folds with two large, laid-back ears. The legs are stocky, and the curly tail is short and carried low. Prioritizing the comfort of the wearer with a shallow relief and smooth edges, the canine draws a tremendous fascination from the natural intense purplish color and structure of the amethyst, further strengthened by a meticulous attention to the surface treatment, polished to the figural part, and matted to the gently angled base. An elegant gilt metal collar chased with a crown of trailing laurel leaf paired with a superbly figured snake wood shaft and white metal ferrule are a license to ultimate luxury and credentials for decisive indulgence. With the fascination of all things French, this cane should be considered a celebration of the easygoing nature and “comedian” charm of the fashionable pug of the time. A figural hard stone cane belongs to a certain type treasured and revered by collectors of fine objets d’art. Costly to produce and reserved for noble and wealthy clients, they speak volumes in the history of art and evoke legendary masters, to name only a few: Fabergé in Moscow, Cartier in Paris, Briggs in London, Tiffany in New York, and Franz Hiess in Vienna. H. 3 ¼” x 2 ½”, O.L. 36 ¼” $1,800-$2,500 Amethyst is a gemstone associated with qualities such as humility, tranquility, devotion, and acceptance. It was linked to Bacchus, the deity of wine, and was believed to alleviate intoxication. The amethyst jug came to represent sobriety, perhaps because of its resemblance to wine but lacking any intoxicating properties. Amethyst, a powerful and safeguarding gemstone, is often used in adornments and serves as the customary birthstone for February.
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