Beginning in approximately the 16th century, canes gradually became more popular among the upper echelons of society, reaching its pinnacle around the late-19th to early-20th centuries. They became far more than just an accessory to assist with mobility, and more of a symbol of ones status and wealth. This piece is a great example of that, likely having been made for someone wealthy to honor a beloved pet. The grip has been masterfully relief carved in the form of a house cat's head wearing a bow and is fitted with blue glass eyes. The whiskers, nose, and eyes have been accented with black enamel. The grip is joined to the shaft by a gutta percha like band and the shaft appears to be walnut tipped with German silver. It measures 36 inches overall.

Very fine, the grip shows an attractively aged patina overall with some light wear and retaining most of the black enamel. The shaft is also very fine with some scattered light handling marks and dings.