Snake cane with fist handle Eastern United States, late 19th century

paint on olive wood with ivory, brads and brass, cufflink and ring incised: R.

Kristina Barbara Johnson, Princeton, New Jersey
Sotheby Parke-Bernet, "The Barbara Johnson Whaling Collection, Part I," December 11-12, 1981, lot 268

"American Radiance: Highlights of the Ralph Esmerian Gift to the American Folk Art Museum," de Menil Gallery at Groton School, Groton, Massachusetts, October 15 - December 15, 2002

American Radiance: The Ralph Esmerian Gift to the American Folk Art Museum, p. 366, fig. 333

Very good condition.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
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More than any other single motif, the snake is a defining characteristic of the handmade cane. From a design perspective, a twisted snake that winds its way up the shaft is ideally suited for the circular surface of a walking stick. As a visual image, it can serve as a metaphor for the natural world, a creature bound to the earth, familiar and yet mysterious, alluring and sometimes threatening.

On a deeper level, the snake's hold on the human imagination is firmly rooted in our collective psyche. As an inhabitant of the shadowy realm between earth and underworld, its symbolism is ancient and universal. In many cultures, the snake signifies rebirth and regeneration and is often linked with power and authority, while in Judeo-Christian tradition, it assumes its decidedly more contradictory associations with knowledge and temptation. For all these reasons, the snake is a potent image, one that has appealed to cane carvers for generations.

A finely carved clenched fist holds a snake's head in a clever integration of handle and shaft. Inlaid fingernails and a ring and cufflink incised with the letter R provide a counterpoint to the darkly painted and textured snakeskin and natural stick. -R.S.