To publicly proclaim their social and economic status, the upper class gentlemen of the 19th and 20th centuries outfitted their attire with highly decorative canes. This late 19th century example would have been a fantastic addition to a worldly European gentleman's wardrobe, especially one that had spent time in Africa. The antique ivory handle of this cane has be masterfully relief carved in the form of a highly detailed hippopotamus head, aggressively bearing its teeth. It is fitted with glass eyes, has detailed skin texture, and appears to have had a brown/grey enamel applied at one time to make it appear more lifelike. The grip is joined to the shaft with a copper band with floral motifs, and the shaft is of smooth Malacca and tipped with a long, ornately shaped brass ferrule. It measures 36 3/4 inches overall. Provenance: Gilbert Segas Passage Jouffroy; The Larry Mattson Collection

Very fine, the grip shows excellent detail, minimal handling evidence, and an attractively aged tone mixed with traces of the grey/brown enamel. The metals show an attractively aged patina. The shaft is fine with a few minor age cracks and light handling marks scattered throughout.