Beginning in roughly the 1600s, canes began an evolution from a mobility aid to a status symbol, and by the late 18th and early 19th century reaching their final form as an accessory for projecting wealth and social status. At their peak, canes were not only a popular accessory for upper class men, but both men and women from the middle class to the most exclusive upper echelons of society. This specific cane appears to be one intended for a woman due to its slender form. The grip has been masterfully relief carved in the form of a bust of the Greek and Roman god Dionysus or Bacchus, surrounded by leafy grape vines and bunches of grapes. Dionysus/Bacchus was the god of the grape-harvest, winemaking, orchards and fruit, vegetation, fertility, insanity, and ritual madness. There is a blank oval escutcheon carved on the front below the bust. The ornate grip is fitted to a slender, springy Malacca shaft that is marked "ANTOINE/PALAIS ROYAL", a business established in Paris in 1745 that was known for the sale of some of the finest umbrellas and canes in the city. They were located at their Palais Royal locations from 1760 to 1886. The shaft is tipped with brass and iron. It measures 39 inches overall.

Very fine overall, the grip showing some scattered hairline age-related cracks and otherwise minimal handling evidence, mild wear revealing a lighter finish on the upper portion of the shaft from regular handling, with otherwise minimal handling marks. A truly masterfully carved piece!