The daily carry of canes reached the pinnacle of its popularity around the late-19th to early-20th centuries. They were more than just a mobility tool, but rather an accessory with which one could publicly project their economic and social status. Popular motifs for canes evolved through the centuries; however, the Victorian era specifically saw an interesting relationship and curiosity surrounding death. The grip of this cane has been masterfully relief carved in the form of a shrouded skeleton representing Death with a snake coiled near his feet. The skeleton shows an impatient appearance with its arms folded, perhaps representing the postponement or cheating of death by the original owner. The grip is joined to a bamboo shaft tipped with iron. It measures 35 inches overall. This cane is pictured and described on p. 36-39 of "Larry Mattson Collections: Carved Cane Handles 2021". Provenance: Laurence Jantzen, Le Louvre des Antiquaires, Paris; The Larry Mattson Collection

Fine, the grip showing an attractively aged tone and a few scattered hairline age cracks. The shaft is also very fine with some dark splotched coloration, retaining almost all of the varnish, and some faded red enamel on the tip.