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LOT 204
Attractive Relief Carved Ivan Mazeppa, Hero of Ukraine Cane - 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 attributed as early 19th century French and features a depiction of the main theme from the poem “Mazeppa” by Lord Byron, in which Ivan Mazeppa (1687-1708) is bound to a wild horse after an affair with the wife of a powerful Polish count. In reality, Mazeppa is highly regarded in Ukraine as one
of the first leaders of the Ukrainian independence movement and a war hero. The antique ivory grip of the cane has been masterfully carved
to show distressed Mazeppa tied to the rearing wild horse. It is fitted to a smooth Malacca shaft that once had a tip that is now absent. It measures
38 1/2 inches overall. CONDITION: Very fine,
the grip showing an attractively aged tone, with
a professional repair of one of the horses front legs, and
a few hairline age cracks. The shaft is fine with some
scattered minor handling marks.
Provenance: The C. Dike Collection; The Patrick Gutknecht
Collection; The Larry Mattson Collection. Estimate: 2,750 - 4,250
LOT 205
Attractive Relief Carved Mermaid with Child 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 appears to pull from one of the more popular themes of the period, Greek and Roman mythology. The antique ivory grip of this cane has been expertly carved
in the form of a half-nude, two-tailed mermaid, often referred to in legends as sirens, who is holding a human
child. Sirens are often portrayed with alluring voices and physical characteristics, and are typically
used as a symbol of dangerous temptation in legends. The grip
is fitted to a slender, smooth ebony shaft and is tipped with light colored horn. This cane appears to be of a lady’s size
and measures 35 5/8 inches overall.
CONDITION: Fine, the left arm of the mermaid has been
professionally reattached and repaired, a few scattered hairline age cracks on the grip, and an attractively aged tone. The shaft is also fine with only the slightest handling marks. Provenance: Injuka-Kunst GMBH; The Larry Mattson Collection. Estimate: 1,800 - 2,750
LOT 206
Relief Carved Pierrot Pantomime 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 represents a popular form of entertainment from the period, with the grip carved in the form of Pierrot,
a sad clown character that
was prominent in pantomime performances. Parts of the
relief carved antique ivory grip have been accented with black enamel to create contrast. It
is joined to the shaft with an antique ivory collar and
the shaft is of smooth snakewood tipped with a German silver and iron
ferrule. It measures 35 1/2 inches overall.
CONDITION: Very fine, the grip showing an attractive lightly aged tone with
minimal handling evidence and retaining most of
the period black enamel. The shaft is also very fine with some scattered light
handling marks.
Provenance: Laurence Jantzen Le
Louvre des Antiquaires; The Larry Mattson Collection. Estimate: 1,800 - 2,750
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