Single Piece Wood Figural Folk Art 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
  Second Half of the 19th century Fashioned of hardwood, possibly maple, this cane begins with a detailed portrayal of a bearded guy sporting a tall cylindrical hat acting as a knob, then moves to a sleek, eight-times-spiraling serpent that spans the whole length of the cane all the way down to a strong 2 ¼” well-adjusted iron ferrule. The snake has a flat, rounded head facing a matched one of a reptile, both with an eye on either side and a tongue linking them. The reptile stands out in four flat, grasping paws rising from the growing body and extending in a long tail with what seems to be a frog biting its end. Further down, standing alone is a beautifully feathered bird with a long beak on one side and a generous, down-hanging tail on the other. Follows what seems to be an Aborigine mask with remarkable, award-winning, superb detail and expression. Next comes a large, short-legged, stylized animal with a clearly dented mouth stressing its wild nature and a large eye under a pair of erected ears underscoring its vigilance. After a plain space, one can see a classy trophy-like frontal depicted, horned head with sidewards extending ears above the triangular snout flanked by two eyes. The long panel ends with a shorter, narrower coiling snake distinguished by a large, dented head flanked by a large, striking round eye. Notable are the tail ends of both reptiles, gracefully meeting at the bottom of the cane in graceful curves. Created by a highly imaginative artist with an apparent conceptual talent, this cane is a true sculpture and a work of art in its own right. Throughout executed within the constraints of the material in striking high relief, the carving is empowered by dark, almost black paint and varnish that faded over long years, lending it the seal of a real US-American antique. Acquired in Louisiana in the early 1950s, this cane stands as a unique piece among an extensive collection of jewelry-type canes from the US West Coast, holding a special place in the heart of its history. It sat there, untouched, in the front row of a cabinet for nearly 70 years until it changed hands after the heartfelt dispersal of the collection three years ago. Regardless of the circumstances, this cane deserves deeper exploration, as pursuing such inquiries can lead to profound and fulfilling discoveries. We selected two reflections from George H. Meyer’s “American Folk Art Canes” book that resonate deeply in this context: “The human form has long been a favorite subject of sculptors, and American folk art cane carvers are no exception, and, Because a stick itself suggests the image of a snake—a creature that is part of both world culture and rural American life—it is not surprising that the snake is perhaps the most common subject on American folk art canes.” Diam. 1 ½”, O.L. 36 ¾” $500 - $800
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