Walking sticks, like many objects from the hand of man, contain a wealth of history. In use since before the time of Tutankhamen, they have been put to service over the centuries not just as ambulation aids, but as symbols of authority and status, presentation gifts, and fashionable accessories. Most often, they were not utilitarian, they were worn as an adornment and valued for their beauty. Canes tell us about the culture, fashion, values and diversions of the people who owned them and the era in which they were made. Many are truly objects d'art, fashioned of ivory, coral, tortoise, silver, gold, platinum, wood, crystal, steel, porcelain, tortoiseshell, minerals, and precious and semi-precious stones. They have as their subject love, death, religion, politics, theatre, war, vocations, history, hobbies, and puzzles. They may contain secret compartments and surprises hidden within. Some have been made by legendary artists, some by unlettered folk craftsmen and mariners lonely at sea. They are allegorical, metaphorical and, sometimes, just self-evidently beautiful. AUTHOR: Roberta Maneker is a freelance writer specializing in art and antiques, formerly Senior Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Communications at Christies. Simon Teakle of Betteridge Jewelers is the former head of the Jewelry Department at Christie's in New York. Wendell Garrett is the former editor of the Magazine Antiques, a consultant to Sotheby's New York and the foremost authority on American Decorative Arts. SELLING POINTS: * A spectacular look at the exquisite, eccentric art of the walking stick. This visually arresting, lavishly produced book features 400 canes from all over the world * Focused on a single private collection, the book features outstanding Art Nouveau and Art Deco designs as well as splendid earlier ivory carvings ILLUSTRATIONS: 794 colour
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