A carved ivory and hardwood walking stick by and from the property of Philipp Perron Munich, circa 1860

the knob carved in full round as a grotesque head held by a bird's claw, above a silvered metal ring incised C.A.S. 

Property of the artist Philipp Perron himself, thence by descent. 

Wilfried Blunt, The Dream King, Ludwig II of Bavaria, London 1970.
Hans-Werner Hegemann, Das Elfenbein in Kunst und Kultur Europas. Mainz 1988.

In overall good condition with rubbing to the silvered ring, the end of the cane protected with later rubber tip.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The first steps of his extraordinary artistic career led the young Philipp Perron (Frankenthal 1840 - Rottach 1907) to Paris where he was trained as a sculptor in the workshop of his brother Jean. From there he decided to move to Munich, a city which rapidly gained in cultural importance under the reign of King Ludwig II of Bavaria (1864-1886).
The story of how Perron and the king met is illustrious and almost legendary: Perron walked the streets of Munich carrying a cane with an ivory handle carved by him. Ludwig's attention was caught by this small masterpiece and he decided to patronise the inexperienced young artist by starting to give him important commissions. For about twenty years, Perron frantically worked as sculptor, stucco-worker and ivory carver in the castles of Herrenchiemsee, Neuschwanstein and Linderhof, trying to bring the king's dreams alive. He worked with a large workshop with a core of about twenty to thirty Italian artisans.
As a proof of his gratitude, Ludwig II appointed Perron to Königlicher Professor und Hofbildhauer (Royal professor and court sculptor). Also after the king's mysterious death at the Starnberger See in 1886, Perron continued to be a celebrated artist.
One of Perron's most famous works in ivory is the chandelier in Schloss Linderhof (buit between 1869 and 1878). In 2005, Sotheby's sold a magnificent ivory model of King Ludwig's II famous sleigh drawn by swans, attributed to Philipp Perron (AM0966, lot 757).
The present walking stick is not only testimony of Perron's early craftsmanship but also a remarkable historical artefact.