Object Description
This is a fantastic antique Austro-Hungarian sterling silver elephant handled walking stick by Magrino bearing hallmarks for 925 sterling silver and dated 1871.
It has a very decorative silver pommel depicting an elephant trumpeting, which has been cast with great attention to detail. The cane has a sturdy Malacca wood tapering shaft which comes complete with its original ferrule.
It is a lovely item and as such would be appreciated by any collector of walking sticks or canes.
Condition:
In excellent condition, please see photos for confirmation.
Dimensions in cm:
Height 94.5 cm x Width 5.5 cm x Depth 3.5 cm
Dimensions in inches:
Height 3 feet, 1 inch x Width 2 inches x Depth 1 inch
Size of cane that you need
Convert your height into inches. For example, if you are 5′ 10” in your shoes, your height is 70 inches. Divide by two and then add ½ inch to determine your approximate cane size.In our example, if you are 70 inches tall (5′ 10”), your approximate cane size would be 35” plus ½”= 35.5 inches.
Malacca wood
Rare and exotic, also known as “King of canes,” was the most commonly used material in making the cane shafts, where the standard grip was rounded and metallic. Today, designer and collector canes have sterling silver handles, and are made with wooden shafts made from various woods, including Malacca and bamboo.
Ornate designs, such as animal heads, skulls, and various emblems, may also be carved into the wooden handles; these may make them harder to wield, but some find them more attractive.
Malacca is one species of rattan found on the coast of Sumatra. Rattan palms have long, slender stems, and were perfect for fashioning walking sticks. The stem is not round, but has a ridge or spine, often called a “teardrop,” running along its length. It is very light-weight, yet strong, with no two specimens being alike. The stem is made up of links with joints or nodes at both ends like bamboo. The bark is strong, with what appears to be a satiny, natural gloss or surface glaze. Color varies from brown to blond or reddish amber.
Our reference: A5219