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THBHardstone Dress 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. 1920
The garnet ball knob is quite large, its smooth, polished surface glowing with the stone’s signature deep red tones and subtle inner shadows. A natural treasure turned refined luxury, it is handsomely mounted with a bright mother-of-pearl ring and a gilt-metal collar, all set on a well-matched, strikingly veined coconut-palm-wood shaft with a horn ferrule.
Notably, coconut wood has uneven densities that make it hard to work but easy to sand, and it finishes with a distinctive, uniquely patterned appearance. It pairs well with mother of pearl, which has been prized since ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia for decorative inlay, carving, and engraving. As global exploration expanded, its shells were traded widely and became popular for their durable iridescence. Major craft centers emerged across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, using it for jewelry, buttons, architecture, and religious art.
Exclusivity is closer than ever in this cane. It stands out for its bold sense of volume and color, perfectly reflecting a collector’s ideals of creativity, craftsmanship, originality, and decorative appeal. Remarkably, it has survived intact, retaining its entire original sparkle.
Hardstone ball-knob canes rose in popularity after WWI and were often carried as personal mascots, chosen for their individual meaning. Their remarkable variety continues to make them highly decorative and appealing collectibles.
H. 2 ½” x 2”, O.L. 37 ¼”
$400-$700
A stone revered since antiquity, garnet has long symbolized protection, vitality, and steadfast affection. Prized by ancient Egyptians, Roman soldiers, and medieval travelers alike, it served as both adornment and amulet, believed to illuminate one’s path and guard against adversity. Its specific nature as a durable silicate mineral, formed under intense heat and pressure, gives garnet its characteristic depth of color and inner fire, qualities that made it a favored gem for personal talismans throughout history.
Healer and protector, garnet encourages loyalty, devotion, and sincerity. In the thirteenth century, blood-red pyrope garnets were thought to be effective insect repellents. To verify a garnet's authenticity, owners would remove their clothing and smear their bodies with honey. If insects did not swarm them, the garnet was genuine.
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