Steadily growing in popularity starting around the 16th century, canes reached the pinnacle of their popularity amongst the upper classes of society around the late-19th and early-20th centuries. They became more than just an accessory, but rather a symbol of ones status and wealth. This example is pictured and described on p. 68-71 of "Larry Mattson Collections: Carved Cane Handles 2021", where the author suggests that the handle may be a representation of Sitting Bull or the Oglala chief Red Shirt, who was a famous member of the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show. The antique ivory grip of this cane has been masterfully relief carved in the form of the bust of a Native American man wearing a feathered war bonnet, in the style of those worn by various plains tribes. The thick shaft is made of a light springy wood, possibly Malacca, and tipped with metal. It measures 36 1/4 inches. Provenance: The Larry Mattson Collection

Very fine, the attractively aged grip shows a few scattered minor chips and a hairline crack in the front near the base, while the shaft shows some light handling marks scattered throughout.