Though they trace their roots further back in history, canes reached their peak popularity in the 19th and 20th centuries, becoming more than just a mobility tool, but rather a physical symbol of social and economic status. The grip of this example is of antique ivory and has been expertly relief carved in the shape of an arm with a ruffled cuff and a clenched fist, a symbol long associated with solidarity, unity, strength, and resistance. The ebonized shaft is tipped with a metal ferrule. It measures 36 1/4 inches overall.