First up was a selection at the Antony Cribb July 24 arms and armour sale in Oxfordshire, followed by a large selection to be offered at Bellmans in Wisborough Green on August 8.
At Antony Cribb (22% buyer’s premium) 30 walking sticks were offered, many with carved ivory pommels.
Despite the new ivory trade ban to come into force in the autumn, the best-seller was a 2ft 10in (85cm) long malacca cane with an ivory pommel carved half as the face of a person and half as their skull. The late 19th-early 20th century stick, with a silver collar, was given a £120-180 estimate and sold at £2200.
A 19th-20th century ivory-pommelled malacca walking cane which sold at £2200 at Antony Cribb.
For those buyers who missed this sale, relax: more than 200 are up for sale next week at Bellmans.
Many of these date back to the 18th century and have been accumulated by a private collector over many years of auction buying and private purchases.
Among the lots are Black Forest carved handles, a gold mounted snakewood example and a cloisonné enamel hardwood cane with an egg form pommel.
To read more about Antony Cribb’s sale, see Antiques Trade Gazette next week (No: 2353).
The walking canes at Bellmans’ auction can be viewed at the West Sussex saleroom between August 3-7.
