Price Guide to Antiques & Collectables
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Novelty 19th century glass walking sticks and canes

A walking stick was an integral part of every well dressed man's wardrobe in the nineteenth century, and his collection of walking-sticks were probably kept just inside the hall in a stand, sharing space with umbrellas.

Walking-sticks and canes derive from the cudgels and staves carried for defence, evolving into dress accessories topped with silver or ivory, with a ferrule at the point to cut down wear. Many had elaborately carved heads. Sometimes these unscrewed to reveal space for a snuff box or other article. About 200 ancillary accessories are known to have been incorporated into walking more... sticks, the best known being the sword. Sword sticks date back to the sixteenth century, and often the sword just slides out with the stick acting as a sheath. Other sword and knife designs had a spring mechanism and would release on the press of a button or lever.

Other sticks pull apart, revealing a dagger with a handle for the left hand, and a stick with a blade for the right hand. Two steel blades sliding into the shaft from each end probably represent duelling weapons. The poacher's gun was a simple weapon in the shape of a walking stick; more sophisticated was a six-barrelled revolver, exposed by pressure on a trigger-spring that expelled part of the cane, and which had a dagger in the centre of the barrels.

Most extravagant was the machine-gun in a rectangular cane. "The kit", as it was 'known, was a pocket violin; this was developed into a violin fitted into a cane with a two-inch (5cm) diameter. Other canes contained music-boxes, harmonicas, flutes, piccolos, pipes (including opium pipes), vesta boxes, cigarette holders, candles, battery torches (dating from as early as 1882), contraceptives, poison, and a whole tribe of canes known as working companions (scalpels for doctors, small spades for botanists, safety lamps for miners). Among the most curious is the voyeur's cane with a mirror above the ferrule enabling the user to look up women's skirts. less...

Canes

From around 1550 to 1930, canes were a dressing accessory without which a lady or gentleman, properly dressed, would never leave the house. However their use went out of fashion after this, leaving the market to collectors.

For a collector, the main interest lies in the handle, which could be made of wood, bamboo, ebony, ivory, tusk, animal horn, or bone. Sometimes they were made out of porcelain, Bakelite, gold, silver, or glass; enameled or cloisonnéd; or sprinkled with precious gemstones. The height of good taste was a gold handle with minmal decoration, as silver handles were despised by more... the wealthier classes. However silver handled canes have survived in large numbers, and exhibit a wide variety of decorative treatment, from the comparatively plain, armorial or regimental style to the more flamboyant excesses of Art Nouveau.

Carved handles can be found depicting grotesque animal or human forms, and are highly prized nowadays. Also keenly sought are multi-purpose canes, with a concealed spirit flask, tobacco pipe or even a tiny fire-arm for personal safety. less...

17 items found.
Nailsea antique English glass walking cane, 19th century, 98 cm…
19th Century Nailsea Antique English Glass Walking Cane (98cm)

Nailsea antique English glass walking cane, 19th century, 38.58 in. high

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Victorian hand blown glass walking cane, spiral shaft filled…
Victorian Sugar Spiral Glass Walking Cane - 113 cm

Victorian hand blown glass walking cane, spiral shaft filled with coloured sugar 44.49 in.

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Victorian hand blown glass walking cane, spiral shaft filled…
Spiral Sweet-filled Victorian Glass Walking Cane - 78cm

Victorian hand blown glass walking cane, spiral shaft filled with sweets 30.71 in.

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Clear spiral green encased glass walking stick
Spiral Glass Walking Stick

Clear spiral green encased glass walking stick

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An antique English green glass walking stick, 19th century, 122…
19th Century English Green Glass Walking Stick

An antique English green glass walking stick, 19th century, 48.03 in. high

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Rare antique twisted glass walking stick length 102 cm
Antique Glass Walking Stick - Rare Find!

Rare antique twisted glass walking stick length 40.16 in.

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A Victorian amber glass walking cane, the square section shaft…
Victorian Amber Glass Walking Cane with Twisted Handle

A Victorian amber glass walking cane, the square section shaft tapering to a long twisted curved handle. Length 41.34 in.

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A Victorian hollow blown glass walking cane whimsey, in clear…
Victorian Clear Glass Walking Cane with Spiralling Shaft

A Victorian hollow blown glass walking cane whimsey, in clear glass with bulbous head and spiralling shaft. 58.27 in.

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Two antique glass walking canes, including green twist glass…
Antique Glass Walking Canes - Green Twist & Swirl Cane

Two antique glass walking canes, including green twist glass cane, length 38.98 in., and red, white and blue swirl cane, a/f, 34.25 in. (2)

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A hollow blown glass walking cane whimsey, in clear glass with…
Spiralling Clear Glass Walking Cane Whimsey

A hollow blown glass walking cane whimsey, in clear glass with bulbous head and spiralling shaft, length 58.27 in.

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Vintage solid art glass walking cane with swirl patterns.…
Swirled Art Glass Walking Cane - Vintage Condition

Vintage solid art glass walking cane with swirl patterns. Condition minor wear. Length 40.55 in.

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Vintage amber art glass walking cane with a blown handle &…
Amber Art Glass Walking Cane with Blown Handle

Vintage amber art glass walking cane with a blown handle & twisted stem, hollow to the centre. Condition good, minor wear the base. Length 41.34 in.

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Two various glass walking sticks. One with white spiral…
Decorative Glass Walking Sticks - White and Amber

Two various glass walking sticks. One with white spiral decoration; the other amber coloured with bulbous handle. Length 40.16 in. (average)

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An end of day blue glass walking cane with applied white candy…
Blue Glass Candy Stripe Walking Cane

An end of day blue glass walking cane with applied white candy stripe decoration

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Victorian glass walking stick, 102 cm long
Victorian Glass Walking Stick - 102cm

Victorian glass walking stick, 40.16 in. long

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Three Victorian walking sticks, 19th century, including a…
Victorian Walking Sticks Collection

Three Victorian walking sticks, 19th century, including a turned and carved whalebone walking stick, an 18 ct. gold mounted wooden walking stick and a green twisted glass walking stick (3), approx height 35.43 in.

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A Victorian candy glass walking cane, 19th century, 116 cm
Victorian Candy Glass Walking Cane (9 words)

A Victorian candy glass walking cane, 19th century, 45.67 in.

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