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THBHard Stone Rat 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
This exquisite Milord knob features a sleek, elongated silhouette carved from rare opalescent Girasol quartz. Its hazy transparency reveals a mysterious, bluish glow that captivates the eye, endowing the piece with ethereal qualities.
Perched atop the handle is a small, wheel-engraved rat, an intricate and unexpected detail that enhances the piece’s distinctiveness. With its rounded ears, pronounced snout, short furry coat, and long, curved tail, the rat is rendered with remarkable precision. Its frosted surface exudes a gentle warmth, while tiny black eyes inject a spark of life and character.
The vertical elegance of the design is further emphasized by a plain and tapered silver collar, stamped with an “800” hallmark and a small, obscure maker’s mark, subtle indications of refined craftsmanship. Below, a well-patterned and richly hued snake wood shaft, along with a smooth horn ferrule, adds to the overall luxury and sophistication of the cane.
While some hardstone figural handles may feel cold or uninviting to the touch, this piece stands apart. Its tactile appeal is undeniable, so much so that it borders on addictive.
Beyond its material charm, the engraved rat carries significant symbolic meaning, particularly in Far Eastern traditions, where it is revered as a symbol of intelligence, diligence,
resourcefulness, and prosperity. To hold such a creature in hand is to embrace strength, adaptability, and abundance.
Historically, canes featuring figural knobs crafted from hard stones were expensive to produce and typically reserved for the nobility or wealthy elite. Today, their craftsmanship and uniqueness continue to attract collectors, making them prized artifacts among discerning cane enthusiasts. This particular example, with its rare materials and cultural resonance, stands as a testament to the enduring allure of such refined and meaningful objects.
3 ¼” x 1 ¼”, O.L. 35 ½”
$2,200-$2,800
Snake Wood, named for its mesmerizing snake-skin patterns, carries an allure that captures the imagination. Its striking figure, reminiscent of ancient hieroglyphics, is sometimes called Letter Wood, hinting at stories and secrets woven into its very fabric. Found only along the pristine coasts of northern South America, this small, precious tree yields wood so extraordinary that it’s regarded as one of the most coveted in the world.
The rich, reddish-brown hue, contrasted by darker patches, deepens and gains a velvety character with age, much like a treasured keepsake. Despite its high waste factor and challenging workability, splintery, hard to cut and drill, snake wood rewards patience with a beautiful luster when turned and polished, revealing its intimate, almost living pattern.
Often crafted into personal treasures, such as glowing bowls, graceful vases, intricate knife handles, or elegant canes, snake wood embodies strength, durability, and a touch of timeless romance. Its rarity and enchanting beauty make it a symbol of ultimate luxury, capturing hearts and inspiring dreams of craftsmanship and enduring elegance.
Girasol quartz radiates a soft, lunar energy, soothing, calm, and serene. With its frosted surface and bluish-white inner glow, it resembles moonlight captured in stone. Beyond its visual appeal, it holds symbolic meaning, often used to harness energy, set intentions aligned with lunar cycles, and connect with spiritual forces associated with the moon.
Yet, conveying this quiet magic through photography presents a significant challenge. Hardstone knobs and handles, particularly those with transparent or semi-transparent qualities, are difficult to document; their subtle luminosity and lack of color can vanish under the camera’s lens. Their charm is as much about texture and light as it is about form, qualities that are easily flattened in images.
To present these delicate objects faithfully, we rely on simple, distraction-free backgrounds. These neutral settings allow the piece's proper shape, glow, and texture to emerge. Choosing the right background tone, light or dark, is key, as each demands different lighting techniques to bring out the object’s natural presence. Ultimately, every detail is considered to ensure these miniature marvels are seen for what they truly are: quietly radiant and profoundly refined.
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