Collecting interesting antique canes, sticks and umbrellas

[storeynicholas]

Does anyone here collect these things?

[RWS]

I seem to be obliged by circumstances to have a frequently changing collection of umbrellas.

[storeynicholas]

Yes, same here. I have lost no fewer than 2 silk-covered, rosewood-handled Brigg umbrellas and several whangees plus a malacca from James Smith. However, I was not talking of those for use but others as collectables: the woods are sometimes interesting: various ebonies, snakewood, rosewood, malacca cane, partridge cane and so too the tops and handles - horn, (old) ivory, (old) tortoiseshell, silver, gold; plain and chased and sometmes even intaglio. Also there are sticks with other uses - from guns and rapiers to drinking sticks, compasses and telescopes.

[culverwood]

Yes. But my collecting is of pieces by craftsmen currently working not generally of antique pieces. I also make walking sticks myself as a hobby.

I look for crooks, cleeks, market sticks and staffs rather than canes and short walking sticks.
This type of thing:


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[RWS]

Nice! (And pleasing garden sculpture, too.)

[storeynicholas]

Very good indeed. Anyone else?

[RWS]

Okay, current: black nylon, black morocco-covered handle with sterling collar, Brigg; black nylon, maple, gilt collar, Brigg; black nylon, Fox frame, whangee handle, gilt collar, unmarked (English make); two similar, no collar (one, antique American; the other, probably Japanese); "golf umbrella", pale blue and white nylon marked with insigne of the Society of the Cincinnati, unmarked (probably Chinese); and an assortment of German- and Chinese-made telescoping umbrellas.

Lest I become melancholy, I'll not list the American, English, French, and German umbrellas of yesteryear!

[storeynicholas]

What was your favourite?

[RWS]

A woman's umbrella, actually: a slender, straight stick, lacquered black, with a mid-grip of white Sèvres painted simply with a spray of flowers; a lilac silk canopy: all in all, a superb example of fin de siècle aesthetics and skill. I hope whoever took it appreciates its beauty and its rarity.

[storeynicholas]

Oddly, I have a simlar experience: a refurbished lady's umbrella which I bought at Smith's for my wife: a simple whole-wood ebony shaft, and (without lapband) an engraved old ivory handle, with a copper ferrule and new nylon canopy - also stolen (from a cloak-room), presumably by somebody who equally appreciated its exquisite merits. By the way, is there a weekly prize, of say, a Fortnum's hamper for the man who keeps his name on the boards the most and the longest? If not; why not?

[RWS]

Well, of course! It's to that weekly prize that I owe my well-stocked larder.

Seriously, I should be less bored by my work and more attentive to it: I know far too little to publish on dress as Manton has done and you, Nicholas, are about to do. Perhaps there's a public for something a bit more obscure . . . .

[storeynicholas]

Obscure, like what, pray?

[storeynicholas]

By the way, a specialist, in anything, they say, is someone who knows more and more, about less, and less - until he knows everything about b****r all!!! - so don't despair. And what is your work?

[Robert Watkins]

There is a shop in Paris that specializes in antique canes. I can't remember its name, but its in the same gallery as the Hotel Chopin.

Robert

[storeynicholas]

thank you. There is also one in Kensington High Street in London - David German; mainly very ornate and unfortunately none with provenance as to former ownership - I mean that it would be nice to own a clouded cane which Brummell had nicely conducted (he collected them too).