Canes reached the pinnacle of their popularity as a fashion accessory around the mid-19th, becoming extremely popular amongst the middle and upper classes of North America and Europe as a means of displaying social status. This example is inscribed on top of the grip "Prestd to/N.W. French/By his Son/G.F.F./New Orleans, La, July 4, 1862." At the time of writing neither of these individuals have been identified, though it should be noted the curiosity of a cane being presented on the independence day of the United States, a year into the Civil War, deep in the heart of the Confederacy, just a couple months after the capture of New Orleans by Union forces. It is possible this cane was a presentation piece celebrating the capture of the city. The gilt knob grip features multiple facets decorated with floral motifs and is fitted with a Malacca shaft tipped with dark horn. It measures 34 3/4 inches overall.