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70 Estimate: 2,000 - 3,500
LOT 3088
Historic Relief Carved Bone Hound Sword Cane Inscribed from Prohibition Era Mayor to Captain of Detectives - The silver band just below the grip on this cane is inscribed “From Mayor Lewis to W.J. Detweiler Jan-1-
33”. Fred Lewis became mayor of Allentown, Pennsylvania in the early 1930s, a time rife
with crime due to the nationwide prohibition on the sale of alcohol. Newspapers at the
time indicate that shortly after taking office, Mayor Lewis made a push to clean up the city with regards to alcohol sales and the crime related to it. William J. Detweiler is referenced many times in the same papers as captain of detectives and is cited multiple times as closing down illegal speakeasies, including an instance on 23 January 1932, when Detweiler raided eight such establishments in one night. It is likely this cane was presented to the captain
for his diligence in carrying out the mayor’s plans to clean up the streets of Allentown. The L-shaped grip of this cane is relief carved in the form of a hound’s head, possibly a reference to Detweiler’s hunting of criminals, and it is joined to the shaft by the inscribed silver bands.
Two more silver bands are present where
the shaft of the splits to reveal a hexagonal blade measuring 25 3/4 inches long. The shaft appears to be a piece of knobbed/burled
fruit wood and is tipped with a German silver ferrule. It measures 35 inches overall. CONDITION: Very good, the grip showing an attractively aged tone, a couple minor chips absent and otherwise light handling marks. The shaft is also very good with a few minor age cracks along the grain and retaining most of the finish.
LOT 3089
Attractive Silver Inlaid Pique Cane - This unique “pique” style of cane was popular in England for a relatively short time from the 1680s to the very early 1700s, brought
there by Huguenots fleeing religious persecution on the continent. It is theorized that this style of cane were all manufactured in a handful of shops, or possibly even by one individual. While not as elaborate as some pieces,
this example appears to have been built for function and everyday carry, whilst also projecting the wealth and social status of the one carrying it. The knob shaped antique ivory grip has been beautifully inlaid with small silver pins/tacks, which have been arranged in vine and floral patterns. There is a hole through the grip for fitting of a lanyard. The grip is fitted to a thick, sturdy Malacca shaft, the tip of which is sleeved with brass. It measures 36 3/4 inches overall.
CONDITION: Fine, the grip having some scattered short hairline age cracks and the silver inlays showing an attractively aged patina. The shaft is very good with some scattered minor handling marks throughout.
Estimate: 1,400 - 2,250
LOT 3090
Attractive Silver Inlaid Pique Antique Ivory Handled Cane -
This unique “pique” style of cane was popular in England for
a relatively short time from the 1680s to the very early 1700s, brought there by Huguenots fleeing religious persecution
on the continent. It is theorized that this style of cane was all manufactured in a handful of shops, or possibly even by one individual. While not as elaborate as some pieces, this example appears to have been built for function and everyday carry, whilst also projecting the wealth and social status of the one carrying it. The knob shaped antique ivory grip has been beautifully inlaid with small, hollow silver pins/tacks, which have been arranged in vine, floral, and border patterns. The grip is joined to the shaft with a turned brass band. The thick, sturdy shaft is of Malacca, with a lanyard hole and leather lanyard, and tipped with light colored horn. It measures 37 1/2 inches overall. CONDITION: Very good, the grip showing some hairline age cracks scattered throughout, attractively aged silver inlays, and otherwise minimal handling evidence. The shaft is fine with a minor crack/chipping hear the top and some scattered light handling marks. A wonderful example of the rare
pique style cane!
Estimate: 1,300 - 1,900