4 February 2012

Looking for someone who knows something about canes.

4 February 2012 | By thy_dungeonman

I recently acquired an antique ivory cane, however the head has detached from the stick. The head is basically a rounded knob and the stick is hollow inside but filled with a transparent yellow resin substance which I assume holds all the ivory together. I want to reattach the head and possibly add in a secret flask to the hollow area using the head as a cap. First though I need to find someone who knows about canes or ivory objects, I wasn’t quite sure whether the average antiques dealer would know too much about canes specifically.

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thy_dungeonman10:26 am 06 Feb 12

dungfungus said :

Knowing that items fashioned from ivory are prohibited imports I would be ashamed to own this cane.
Are you comfortable knowing that an elephant was slaughtered so this cane / knob could be made?
The “transparent yellow resin substance” in the hollow sounds a bit suspicious – could be something that is vegetable that sometimes is supplied as a resin? Smoke some and see what happens. Then you can decide if you need the secret flask afterall.

First of all I declared it at customs and they look at it and said it was fine.Second I managed to email someone who knows about canes and they didn’t have much info but they told me it was camel bone, so no elephants were remotely harmed in the making of it.

poetix10:09 am 06 Feb 12

Ben_Dover said :

I’ve heard there are several places in Fyshwick which specialise in caning.

Oh come on, someone had too…”

I bet you feel like a (k)nob now.

RiotFrog9:25 am 06 Feb 12

Ben_Dover said :

I’ve heard there are several places in Fyshwick which specialise in caning.

Oh come on, someone had too…”

Well, they didn’t *have* to.

But we’re glad you did.

PBO9:21 am 06 Feb 12

dungfungus said :

Knowing that items fashioned from ivory are prohibited imports I would be ashamed to own this cane.
Are you comfortable knowing that an elephant was slaughtered so this cane / knob could be made?
The “transparent yellow resin substance” in the hollow sounds a bit suspicious – could be something that is vegetable that sometimes is supplied as a resin? Smoke some and see what happens. Then you can decide if you need the secret flask afterall.

Cry me a river hippie, it could be Hippo ivory or Walrus, Whale, Bird ivory or even Vegetable Ivory. And stop trying to put guilt on the guy, did he shoot the Elephant? Think about that as you type your response whilst wearing your leather shoes and leather belt and eating your food made of animal products.

Get over it, it is an antique.

breda8:29 pm 05 Feb 12

Thanks, i-filed, will check them out. They are not Leonardo sketches or anything, but are old European pieces that need proper protection from our climate and bright light, as well as careful mounting.

I-filed7:16 pm 05 Feb 12

breda said :

Or, do other Rioters have recommendations?

You may not need a conservator for framing – unless the prints need really special treatment.

Framing Pieces in Mitchell is very good & know their stuff re acid free, light protection and all that. Last year they framed a work for me for half the price quoted by the Exhibition Centre in Kembla St.

dungfungus6:34 pm 05 Feb 12

Knowing that items fashioned from ivory are prohibited imports I would be ashamed to own this cane.
Are you comfortable knowing that an elephant was slaughtered so this cane / knob could be made?
The “transparent yellow resin substance” in the hollow sounds a bit suspicious – could be something that is vegetable that sometimes is supplied as a resin? Smoke some and see what happens. Then you can decide if you need the secret flask afterall.

Postalgeek4:44 pm 05 Feb 12

Ben_Dover said :

I’ve heard there are several places in Fyshwick which specialise in caning.

Oh come on, someone had too…”

Seemed most appropriate coming from you

breda4:22 pm 05 Feb 12

Ben – can you recommend Art and Archival for old prints and engravings (assuming you are not connected with the business). I have a couple of these which need to be properly mounted and framed, but can’t afford to spend a fortune.

Or, do other Rioters have recommendations?

thy_dungeonman3:37 pm 05 Feb 12

I-filed said :

thydungeonman you will probably need the services of a conservator – an antique dealer would generally fix an item themselves for sale but not necessarily share their knowledge. Expect to pay $120 – $150 an hour for an assessment and mend by a good conservator, and of course how much the cane is worth will govern whether you invest $$$ in it. Unless it is uniquely ornate, exceptionally old (like, established to be pre early to mid1800s), or has provenanced historical interest, an old cane would not be worth more than tens of dollars.

As it’s unlikely to be valuable, you can probably confidently proceed yourself with info gleaned from the internet & your own skills, knowing you aren’t risking much money.

Thanks for the info, I think I will try and see how much I can find about the cane before I fix it, I’m not sure how old it is I got it from an antique shop in Athens, as for ornateness the handle is actually an octopus head with tentacles extending over the stick part, so I would say it’s quite unusual, amongst the other canes in the store was one with a working telescope as the handle.