Cane

probably French

Not on view

Apart from their obvious functionality, canes were an elegant accessory in the 19th century, when the afternoon promenade gave members of the fashionable set occasion to display their finery and genteel manners. The chased design on the handle of this handsome cane is particularly detailed, and the inclusion of both bird and plant motifs distinguishes it from the more routine overall scroll or flower design frequently used on such fittings. The cane's slender shape and light weight suggest it could be either a woman's or man's walking stick.

Cane, wood, metal, probably French

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