antique walking stick
Posted by WATANABETAIGA
What is a walking stick?
Nowadays, when we hear the word cane, we tend to think of it as a nursing care product for walking assistance.
However, it was once an indispensable item for men's fashion, not only in medieval Europe but also in Japan during the Meiji era.
Walking sticks at that time had various designs and decorations on the handle, and were more meaningful as accessories than practical.
In England from the late 18th century to the 19th century, the cane was a symbolic item for British gentlemen.
Even today, the image of the tuxedo, top hat, and walking stick as the standard British gentleman's fashion style remains.
History of walking sticks
In addition to "STICK", there are many other words for cane such as "CANE", "WAND", "STAFF", "ROD", "POLE", "MACE", and "SEPTER". There are many different names, depending on the length and purpose (walking aid, agricultural tool, weapon, symbol of authority, etc.).
"Stick" is a Japanese word that is a corruption of the English word STICK, and refers to a walking stick that is both fashionable and a walking aid.
STICK also simply means "stick," so it is often expressed as "WALKING STICK" to clarify the meaning of cane.
Canes were originally used as practical items such as agricultural tools, weapons, and walking aids.
Various canes began to appear in paintings of gods in ancient Egypt, ancient Greece, ancient Rome, etc., and they were considered sacred and became symbols of authority, as they were made from sacred trees.
In Europe, it began to have a strong ceremonial meaning, with kings using it in national ceremonies as a symbol of authority, and clergy holding canes to symbolize their rank.
Gradually, it became popular as an ornament not only for kings but also for aristocrats, and various types of ornaments came to be used.
For kings and aristocrats, holding a cane, which was not intended as a walking aid, seemed to have become a symbol of authority, a way to assert that they could live without any inconvenience even with one hand occupied.
In the 18th century, walking sticks became very popular as a fashion item among British gentlemen who had greatly developed due to the industrial revolution, and along with hats, ties, and gloves, they became symbolic items of ``proper appearance.''
In the 20th century, fashion began to favor practical items, and the custom of carrying a walking stick gradually disappeared as men's status changed to automobiles.
parts of the walking stick
1. Handle This is the part where you hold the cane. Also called the grip. It comes in a variety of shapes, materials, and designs.
2. Collar A metal fitting used to connect the handle and shaft. Also called a middle ring. Some are engraved with the owner's initials or message.
3. Shaft This is the support part of the walking stick. Various woods are used.
4. Ferrule This is a part that reinforces the part that touches the ground. It is also called a ferrule. It is made of metal or buffalo horn. It is a consumable item because it is a part that is easily damaged. Many antique walking sticks are replaced midway through the process.
various walking sticks
1. Types of handles (grips)
A. Crook handle A round handle shaped like an umbrella handle. Also called round or curved handle.
B. Clutch handle The grip part is T-shaped and is held with the long end facing you. The type with the long end bent downwards is also called a derby handle.
C. Pommel handle This is a type with a knob-like round protrusion on the handle part. Also called knob handle, grip ball, and Daikoku.
D.Animal head handle There is a carving in the shape of a bird or animal head on the handle.This is a design often seen on high-end walking sticks.
2. Handle material
A.Silver Many of the items in the UK are made of sterling silver (92.5% purity).Many of them have beautiful silver engravings.
B.Wood
There are types made of the same material as the shaft and types made of different materials.
C.Animal horns, fangs, etc.
This type is made of water buffalo, deer antler, ivory, etc.
D.Others
There are natural stones such as tiger eye, mother of pearl, copper and brass.
3. Shaft material
A.Ebony
A tree native to Southeast Asia, it is also famous as a material for high-end furniture.
It is a deep black and very hard material.
There is also ebonized wood, which is colored black like ebony.
B.Rosewood
It is a high-quality material along with ebony.
It is also called rosewood because some fresh timber has a rose-like scent.
The material is hard and the colors vary from light brown to purple.
C. Bamboo
There are many walking sticks made from Asian bamboo in Europe as well.
It was popular because it was light, durable, and had an orientalism to it.
D. Malacca wisteria
This tree is native to the tropical regions of Malaysia and Indonesia.
It has a bamboo-like stem, but one with long internodes is cut off and used for a walking stick.
It is very light and has a moderate amount of pliability.
summary
Most antique canes were not made as medical devices for walking aids like they are today, and their strength is not suitable for such use.
However, there are many beautiful walking sticks with various designs that were born out of the desire of gentlemen of the time to use something that was even slightly different from others.
Of course, it can still be used as a fashion item to match classic attire.
