Page 59 - Auction84-Book1

LOT 84
Desirable Relief Carved Antique Ivory Armoured Knight Sword Cane - Starting in the 16th Century, canes and walking sticks became extremely popular, first among royalty and nobility, and by the 19th and 20th Centuries having worked their
way down to the middle classes as a symbol of status. This example is exceptionally stately, featuring an antique ivory handle masterfully relief carved in the form of a fully armoured knight standing atop a plinth, his shield held above his head. The shield is carved with the words “HONI SOIT QUI MAI Y PENSE” around the edge. The inscription is in Anglo-Norman language, a dialect spoken by the medieval ruling class of England, and translates to “Evil to who evil thinks,” or loosely “Shame on anyone who thinks evil of it.” This quote is associated with the British monarchy and thus identifies the knight of English royalty. This cane was possibly made for royalty. Attached to the handle is a 22 1/8 inch, thin, rapier-like blade that is retained within the shaft with a small spring. The shaft is of heavily knotted hardwood with an antiqued finish and has a brass ferrule at the tip. CONDITION: Very fine, the antique ivory showing an attractive lightly aged appearance, the blade mostly a bright grey patina with some scattered light pitting and oxidation, a few hairline cracks in the shaft, and attractive antique patina on the brass. Estimate: 2,750 - 4,250
and contrasting wood, while the tip is dark horn.
CONDITION: Fine, the handle showing an attractive very slight aged appearance with crisp carving, nearly all of the inlays on the shaft remaining and some scattered light handling marks, and some light wear near the bottom that is possibly evidence of a previous larger tip.
Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
57
LOT 85
Ornate Germanic Style Relief Carved Antique Ivory Coat of
Arms Cane with Inscribed Silver Band - This ornate cane shows
decidedly Germanic styling, which is reinforced by the names
inscribed on the silver band. The vertical handle is beautifully
carved with a coat of arms, the shield quartered with a cog wheel,
tree, eagle, and horn/harp, and flanked by flags divided into thirds
horizontally, possibly Austrian. There is a relief carved band of foliage at the bottom of the handle just above the silver band which joins it to the shaft. The band is inscribed “C.Savelsberg (Kobold)/s/l O. Bilharz (Kugh)/zfr Er. Weihnachtskneipe 83”, the last line indicating that this cane may have been a Christmas gift, likely in 1883. The shaft is ebonized hardwood and it is fitted with an exceptionally long tip (8 7/8 inches) made up of four pieces of joined horn. The overall length is 34 inches.
CONDITION: Very good, the handle showing an attractive slightly aged appearance with a few hairline age cracks, some scattered minor dings and a hairline crack in the shaft, and a few hairline cracks and some visible glue on the tip.
Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
LOT 86
Expertly Relief Carved Antique Ivory Bull and Wolf Bust Cane - Starting in the 16th Century, canes and walking sticks became extremely popular, first among royalty and nobility, and by the 19th and 20th Centuries having worked their way down to the middle classes as a symbol of status. This cane appears Germanic in origin, with an “L” shaped, antique ivory grip that is masterfully relief carved with what appears to be the
busts of an aurochs bull and a wolf, both fitted with black glass eyes. The handle is joined to the hardwood shaft by a brass band and just below that is a decorative oval design made up of inlaid wire, antique ivory,