25. Silver and Hyppo Tooth Dog Cane
Ca. 1900 A classic opera-shaped silver handle, masterfully engraved with an intricate tapestry of scrolls, foliates, and blossoming flowers, creates a richly tex- tured surface evocative of a brocaded carpet. The ornamental design winds seamlessly around the handle’s form, conjuring the image of a sumptuous textile coiled around a stylized canine. At one end, the hypo-tooth-sculpted head of the dog emerges, alert, noble, and finely detailed, with inset colored crystal eyes, while its hind- quarters and tail subtly complete the illusion on the opposite side. The head's shape, along with its expressive features and cropped ears, unmis- takably evokes a French Bulldog, a breed that enjoyed great popularity at the time. The result is a handle that is both a refined accessory and a whimsical work of art, brimming with character and historical charm. The handle is fitted with a plain silver collar and mounted on a well- matched, attractively tapering shaft, whose richly textured surface and warm, reddish-brown hues suggest fine mahogany. It concludes with a tastefully selected, high-grade, and tall horn ferrule that harmonizes with the piece's overall sophistication. While the absence of hallmarks complicates a definitive attribution, subtle stylistic nuances allow us to confidently place the cane’s origin in France, during the Belle Époque, a period when the French Bulldog reigned as the beloved coqueluche of Parisian society. H. 4 ¼” x 2 ¼”, O.L. 37 ½”
$600-$800
Because of the animal's tooth size, hippopotamus teeth are only available in smaller and relatively flat pieces. Fragile, with a layered structure and sensitive to moisture, and with an inborn strong tension, hippo-tooth carvings often split in dry weather and, over the years, acquire a glazed, luminous surface coupled to a specific, creamy patina.
Continental Cane Collection Auction - 55
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